BUJU BANTON’S “TOO TOO BAD” ENTERS THE 2027 GRAMMY RACE: A DANCEHALL ICON MAKES ANOTHER RUN FOR MUSIC’S BIGGEST STAGE

For Your GRAMMY Consideration: Buju Banton’s latest album puts reggae, dancehall and Jamaican culture back in the spotlight

The road to the 2027 GRAMMY Awards is officially underway, and Jamaican reggae and dancehall heavyweight Buju Banton is once again in the conversation.

With his latest album, Too Too Bad, Buju Banton has entered the 69th GRAMMY Awards cycle, with the project being considered in the Best Reggae Album category. The album is among a record 119 projects reported as eligible submissions for consideration in the category this year, making the competition particularly strong.

For an artist whose career has been deeply connected to the evolution and international recognition of Jamaican music, the latest GRAMMY campaign represents another significant moment.

Released July 17, 2026, Too Too Bad marks a return to a more dancehall-focused sound for the Grammy-winning artist. The 13-track project has been described as a return to elements of dancehall’s golden era while incorporating contemporary production and collaborations. The album also made its debut on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, entering at No. 8.

The GRAMMY consideration also comes with considerable history.

Buju Banton is a GRAMMY Award winner, having taken home the Best Reggae Album award in 2011 for Before the Dawn. He has also accumulated multiple additional GRAMMY nominations throughout his career, including recognition for Inna Heights, Friends for Life, Rasta Got Soul, Too Bad, Upside Down 2020 and Born For Greatness.

Now, with Too Too Bad, the veteran artist finds himself in another highly competitive Best Reggae Album field that includes some of the biggest names in reggae and dancehall.

And this year’s race is significant beyond one artist.

Dancehall is once again demanding attention on one of music’s biggest international platforms.

The 2027 Best Reggae Album field includes projects from established Jamaican names and emerging voices, reflecting the continued global reach of reggae and its various branches, including dancehall.

For Buju Banton, Too Too Bad arrives at a time when Jamaican music continues to push beyond geographical boundaries while maintaining its connection to the culture that created it.

The first round of GRAMMY voting runs October 12–22, 2026, with the official 2027 GRAMMY nominations scheduled to be announced November 16, 2026. The 69th Annual GRAMMY Awards are scheduled for February 7, 2027, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

So for now, the message is simple:

This is not a nomination announcement — this is the GRAMMY consideration stage.

But make no mistake: Buju Banton is back in the race.

From the streets of Jamaica to international stages, from dancehall’s foundation to the global music conversation, Too Too Bad represents another chapter in the career of an artist who has spent decades helping carry Jamaican music to the world.

And as the industry waits to see who makes the final cut, one thing is undeniable:

The Gargamel has entered the building.

Axe Blondie TV | Urban + Caribbean Media Right At Your Fingertips

We will be watching the GRAMMY race closely as the nominations are announced and the next chapter unfolds for Buju Banton and Jamaican music.

Story by Ask Blondie TV / AskBlondieTV.com

Urban + Caribbean Media Right At Your Fingertips

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