by Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter

Buju Banton - Claudine Housen

And the winner is...Well, we don't know that yet; but as the Grammy Awards show approaches, several in the local entertainment industry try their hand at predicting the winner of the Best Reggae Album.

The nominees in the category are: Buju Banton with Too Bad, Ziggy Marley with Love Is My Religion, Matisyahu with Youth, Sly & Robbie with Rhythm Doubles and UB40 with Who You Fighting For.

Chino, recording artiste, said, "It's a tough category, but I would go with Buju. Reason being, he really stepped up in '06 with a couple solid hits like Driver. It's a very good album."

He says he is familiar with some of the other albums in the category: "I haven't been through all of them thoroughly. Sly and Robbie, you know their things hot; Ziggy have a good album and Matisyahu I never really go through his album, but I know it is doing very well."

Talk show host and former Dancehall Queen, Carlene Smith, says Buju is her favourite, though she is not sure who will win. "Who is most likely to win, I don't know, but I really want Buju Banton to win," she said.

She gave her reasons for rooting for Banton: "He's our own Jamaican deejay. He's been around for a very long time and he made a good comeback after relaxing for a few years and he's a good artiste."

Artiste and show promoter, Tony Rebel is facing a dilemma - he has three picks. "My pick would be between Sly and Robbie, Buju and Ziggy. Unfortunately, because of the nature of the Grammys it might go otherwise. Matisyahu is a Jew and he is American, UB40 is a well-known group and they are also favourites, but listening to Sly and Robbie, Buju and Ziggy's albums, it put it between those three."

Another artiste, Ras Myhrdak says his pick is Sly and Robbie. "I bet on Sly and Robbie because they sell favourites when it comes to the Grammys. I'm not saying that the others are not qualified or worthy of it, but Sly and Robbie is more household. They did 'Taxi' (rhythm) and one of Buju's biggest tune is on it."

The Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, so stay tuned to see if your prediction was right.

Left: Members of UB40 at bMobile Reggae Sunsplash 2006 as the band made its Jamaican debut. - Ian Allen   Right: Ziggy Marley - File