DAYS after the Grammy nominations were announced, reggae artiste Blvk H3ro—who is nominated in the Best Global Music Performance category—believes the stakes are high for him to win.

The entertainer is featured on the song Neva Bow Down by Ghanaian artiste Rocky Dawuni. It was produced by Bob “Bob Riddim” Bouchard.

“I think we definitely have a good chance. Rocky is a giant in music and activism on the African continent and I’m honoured that he considered to join forces with the Blvk H3ro from Waterford. I’m also really excited that the track was composed by my longtime producer Bob Bouchard so it feels like a victory for the whole family already. With Ghana and Jamaica and the whole black star power coming together on this one, I feel we definitely can win because the message is strong and clear, the music is nice and the video is powerful. I feel it would be a massive win for the whole African Diaspora ’cause we bringing it full circle, but to be honest, even just being nominated in the same category as such amazing musicians, I feel like we won already,” an elated Blvk H3ro told the Jamaica Observer.

They go up against Arooj Aftab and Anoushka Shankar (Udhero Na), Matt B and Eddy Kenzo (Gimme Love), Burna Boy (Last Last), and Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini and Nomcebo Zikode (Bayethe).

The singer, whose given name is Hervin Bailey, said the nomination come as a total surprise. He was actually asleep while the official announcement was being made.

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting the nomination. I know we were being considered but it never once crossed my mind that we would [be] nominated. It just seemed like something so far away in the distance. I’m not saying I didn’t feel we deserved it but there are thousands of artists in the running so it never crossed my mind that we would cut through the crowd. I’m still pretty shocked, but my manager pointed out to me how much good energy was surrounding Rocky and his team and how the song and the message were reaching so many ears so we all felt it bubbling up in the community of musicians.

“I heard about the nomination while I was at a friend’s house. I just woke up to a bunch of missed calls and messages and didn’t think much of until finally when I checked it hit me bam — Grammy nominated — and boy, was I excited to see that! It’s still like a dream. I still a smile from ear to ear. Trust me, it was such an intense emotional reaction,” he said.

He admitted that the collaboration with Rocky Dawuni was done purely to help a friend a out. He had no clue it would have erupted like this.

“The thought process was simply to help my brother Rocky deliver a message of strength, peace and love for our collective family worldwide. I always want my voice to be a part of something purposeful and intentional and Rocky is a real life African dignitary inna the music, so it was just a blessing overall that he noticed my work and felt I would be a good fit to represent what he stands for,” the singer said.

Blvk H3ro attended Excelsior High School before moving to Portmore Community College to study computer science, but had to abandon those dreams due to financial challenges.

He, alongside Yaksta, were hailed by Prime Minister Andrew Holness earlier this year for upholding consciousness and positivity in the society through their music.

According to him, his quest for producing positivity is motivated by trying to encourage his listeners.

“I keep just thinking about the balance of things. I don’t condemn any art or sonic but I do believe that giving the people the freedom to choose what they want to listen to is a must. So, I see the push of a specific narrative, a specific set a topics and I know I must balance it out with conscious topics and make music for the people who reached that changing point in their lives and just want a little message from the universe to feed them the right spiritual food assure them that they’re on the right path,” he said.

The Grammy Awards are slated for February 5, 2023 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.