Buju is a Grammy Nominee

LOS ANGELES, USA, December 8, 2006 - Reggae singer, Buju Banton, who has faced tremendous criticism from gay rights activist, was yesterday named among the nominees in this year’s Best Reggae Album category for the 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Banton, born Mark Anthony Myrie, received the award for the album, ‘Too Bad,’ which was released on his own Gargamel Music, Inc. label. ‘Too Bad,’ released in September this year, is a pure dancehall album that marked a return to his roots and a departure from the conscious lyrics he had been singing in recent years. It features songs like ‘Your Night Tonight,’ ‘Too Bad’ and ‘Waistline.’

But the 1992 song "Boom Bye Bye,” continues to haunt him with gay groups calling for a boycott of many of his shows and the UK group OutRage calling for a ban of his music which they claim encourages hate crime.

Banton faces competition from Ziggy Marley’s ‘Love Is My Religion,’ Sly & Robbie’s ‘Rhythm Doubles,’ UB40 ‘Who You Fighting For,’ and Jewish reggae singer Matisyahu’s ‘Youth.’

Meanwhile, Jamaican-American rapper, Busta Rhymes, was among nominees in the Best Rap Solo Performance category for his ‘Touch It,’ single. Other nominees in this category includes Missy Elliott for ‘We Run This,’ Lupe Fiasco for ‘Kick, Push,’ Mos Def for ‘Undeniable’ and T.I. for ‘What You Know.’ While Haitian hip-hop maestro

R&B songstress Mary J. Blige topped the nominations with eight, while Red Hot Chili Peppers garnered six, James Blunt, the Dixie Chicks, John Mayer, Danger Mouse, Prince, Rick Rubin, will.i.am and John Williams each five nods and Beyoncé, Bryan-Michael Cox, Gnarls Barkley, Israel Houghton, T.I and Justin Timberlake received four each.

The 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on Feb. 11, at Staples Center in Los Angeles and once again will be broadcast live on CBS from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). (Hardbeatnews.com)

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