Shensea reacts to her 2025 Grammy nomination: “I finally made it among the greats”

The 2025 Grammy nominations rolled in this morning (November 8), and two Jamaican powerhouses earned their first Grammy nods for their own work.

In 2017, Shensea made waves with a remix of Vybz Kartel's “Loodi”. today the dancehall star joins Kartel as a 2025 Grammy nominee for Best Reggae album thanks to It's never late here. Released on May 24, It's never late here serves as Shenseea's second studio album and features collaborations with Masicka, Di Genius, Anitta, Coi Leray and Wizkid. The album reached No. 4 on Reggae Albums, becoming Shenseea's second consecutive LP to reach the top five on the chart.

“I was in the office getting my IV done and I started screaming. People in the office were like, “Oh my God! Who died?' says Shenseea exclusively Bulletin board for her initial reaction to her candidacy. “I finally made it among the big guys, that's what I thought at first. Of [been] a long way to get here for my country and my culture. Momentum and hype are quicker to accept that quality sometimes, especially in this new generation. To make it here after everything I've been through from stage zero, I feel like I'm at ten. It's just the icing on the cake to win.”

Shenseaa earned a pair of Grammy nominations (album of the year and best rap album) in 2022 thanks to her work on Ye's Billboard 200. Doda LP. He appeared alongside Roddy Ricch on “Pure Souls”, which reached No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100. “I told myself I wouldn't attend the Grammys until I was nominated for best reggae album for my own project,” she reveals. “Even when Doda I was nominated, I didn't go to the awards. [This nomination] it means everything to me. I feel like my hard work is finally paying off. I've been dreaming of this moment since I found out I could sing!'

If given the chance to perform on either the TV show or the premiere ceremony, Shensea chooses “Face Lift (Intro)” – which features her son – as her song of choice. Should she take home the Grammy next February, Shensea will join fellow JA Star Koffee as the only women ever to win best reggae album.

Just months after regaining his freedom, Portmore's own Vybz Kartel has earned his first career Grammy nomination with Party with mewhich was released this spring (May 31) via Adidjahiem Records. For more than three decades, Kartel has been a leader in the dancehall genre thanks to a near-constant stream of releases and crossover bites ranging from 2009's Spice-assisted “Romping Shop” to 2016's “Fever.”

Earlier this summer (July 31), Kartel regained his freedom after the Court of Appeal unanimously ruled that he and his co-defendants — Shawn Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St. John — would not face a new trial in Clive's 2011 murder “Lizard” Williams. Kartel was initially sentenced to 35 years in prison after a historic 64-day trial in 2014, but he and his co-defendant have always denied involvement in Williams' death.

The 2025 Grammy nominees for Best Reggae album are Play with me (Vybz Kartel), It's never late here (Shenseea), Take it easy (Collie Buddz), Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired by The Film (Various Artists) and Development (The Wailers).

The Grammys return to Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, February 2.