The legacy of reggae icon Bob Marley continues to shine as covers of his timeless hits earned the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. The 10-track compilation, Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired by the Film, emerged victorious at the prestigious awards ceremony held on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Released via Island Records and Tuff Gong in February 2024, the album presents fresh interpretations of Marley’s classic songs by various international artistes. Competing against strong contenders—Evolution by The Wailers, Never Gets Late Here by Shenseea, Take It Easy by Collie Buddz, and Party with Me by Vybz Kartel—the project took home reggae’s highest honor, reinforcing the global impact of Marley’s music.
A representative from Island Records accepted the award on behalf of the contributing artistes and production team. The compilation features a diverse mix of artistes, each bringing their unique touch to Marley’s iconic tracks. The standout renditions include Natural Mystic by Bloody Civilian, Exodus by Skip Marley, Waiting in Vain by Daniel Caesar, Three Little Birds by Kacey Musgraves, One Love by Wizkid, Is This Love by Jesse Reyez, Redemption Song by Leon Bridges, Rasta Reggae by Puerto Rican reggaeton artiste Farruko, Misty Morning by Mystic Marley, and No Woman No Cry by Shenseea.
The success of the album is closely tied to the buzz surrounding the One Love film, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. The movie stars Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley, Lashana Lynch as his wife Rita Marley, and James Norton as music executive Chris Blackwell. The film’s influence propelled the album to No. 10 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, reflecting its strong reception among fans and critics alike.
The Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, which recognizes excellence in reggae music—including roots reggae, dancehall, and ska—saw an increase in submissions, with 75 entries in 2025 compared to 65 in the previous year. This growth highlights reggae’s continued evolution and influence on the global music scene.
