Samory I’s full-length album debut, STRENGTH, was unquestionably the most powerful statement made in the genre in 2023. It garnered accolades including being named the #42 album on Rolling Stone’s Best Albums of 2023 (and the only reggae album to be included there, to boot); picked as the album of the year and best producer by the readers of RIDDIM Magazine (Germany); picked as the #2 best album of the year by Reggaeville (Benelux); and finding extensive airplay everywhere from the BBC to Radio Nova to Hot 97 NYC to KEXP and beyond. Produced by Winta James, and featuring guest appearances by Lila Ike, Kabaka Pyramid, Capleton, Jesse Royal, and Mortimer, this record set a new standard for what a modern roots album can be moving forward.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION – BEST REGGAE ALBUM: SAMORY I – STRENGTH
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
BEST REGGAE ALBUM:
SAMORY I – STRENGTH
“2023 was a dreadful year for reggae records, with most of Jamaica’s brightest lights taking the year to tour instead of putting out new music. But even in a banner year, this album would be a standout. With Winta James, Jamaica’s very best producer, at the controls, the rhythm tracks are flawless, timeless. But it’s Samory I’s vocals that take Strength to instant-classic territory, the highest of heights. It’s not just that every bar is tucked into the deepest part of the pocket. It’s also that Samory somehow manages to be vulnerable, broken, triumphant, plaintive, and passionate all at once — all in the same chorus, even.”
– Rolling Stone
“Samory I is among the most compelling Jamaican voices of this generation, whose mesmeric tone is both a guttural cry and a clarion call to collective mobilization.”
– GRAMMY.com
“Strength is an extraordinary oeuvre, combining intelligent compositions with equally clever songwriting and that under-your-skin voice of Samory I – an artist that has stories to tell which deserve every bit of our attention!”
– Reggaeville
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