Tanya Stephens Shut Out of 2006 Reggae Grammy Nominations

Ziggy Marley, Sly and Robbie, Matisyahu, Buju Banton and UB40 are all gonna battle it out for the Reggae Category Grammy….BUT the widely hailed Rebelution album by Tanya Stephens was completely shut out of the nominations.

The nominations for the 2006 Grammy awards were released a week ago and in the Reggae category, a conspicuous absence is that of Tanya Stephens, whose Rebelution album was widely hailed and on the top of many charts, but is not among the nominees. Stephens' previous album, 2004's Gangsta Blues was also bypassed for nomination that year.

In an interview with the Jamaican media, Stephens said that she did not need any validation outside of Jamaica for her album.’That's like a girl begging to get into the boys' club. It's a club unto itself, and I don't need it." She referred to Shaggy's multi-platinum Hot Shots album, which also missed Grammy nomination.

The 2006 nominees in the reggae category are Too Bad by Buju Banton, Ziggy Marley's Love Is My Religion, Youth by Chasidic Jew chanter Matisyahu, Sly & Robbie's Rhythm & Doubles and Who You Fighting For by UB40.