Rhythm Twins Robbie Shakespeare (left) and Sly Dunbar at the Alric and Boyd's 16th Anniversary press conference at the Hilton Kingston hotel on December 9, 2008.Colin Hamilton/freelance photographer
The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles next week Sunday and once again, the 'Rhythm Twins', Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare have been nominated, this time for their album, Amazing, which was released in September last year. The CD has been nominated in the Best Reggae Album category.
The other nominees are Burning Spear with Jah Is Real, American rapper-turned-reggae artiste Heavy D for Vibes, Lee 'Scratch' Perry for Repentance, Shaggy for Intoxication and Elephant Man for Let's Get Physical.
The duo, which has been working together for over 30 years, spoke with The Sunday Gleaner while touring Scotland about their latest Grammy nomination.
"It is good to know that after 30 years our music still means a lot to the world. We try to make simple music when we are making the music. With other musicians we try and establish a groove that's danceable because we make it for the people not for ourselves," Dunbar said.
He added that the duo did not make music to earn a Grammy and that they were grateful for what they got because they made music for the people.
"We don't make music for the Grammy awards, we make music for the people. If we are nominated for a Grammy it's fine, if not, it is still fine," he said.
The duo also wanted to congratulate the 'Energy God', Elephant Man, on his nomination.
"I feel good for Elephant Man because he works very hard. I think we were the first one to produce his group. We did many rap segments for his group called Scared Dem Crew and we did his first video with them and also we think Elephant Man is cool," Dunbar said.
inspirational duo
Dunbar also told The Sunday Gleaner that they were currently working with Leba (Toots Hibbert's daughter), Cherine Anderson, Stancana, Red Rose, Pam Hall, Lutan Fyah, Yogi, Tony Rebel, Lukie D and The Taxi Gang Instrumentals.
The inspirational duo wish the blessings of a Grammy on all hard-working artistes. "The Grammy-Awards is cool and it means a lot. It is for work you have done musically. I would like for every singer, deejay and musician to get one," Dunbar said.
According to an article published in THE STAR on November 18, 2008, Kaz Asonuma, producer at Taxi Records said, "If the Rhythm Twins win, it would be their third win from four nominations. We won our first Grammy with Black Uhuru (1985) and in 1997 for Friends. They were also nominated for Best R&B Instrumental in 1985."
The 'Twins' were nominated again last year for Anniversary - a compilation of songs featuring the Taxi Gang and artistes such as Beenie Man, Red Dragon, Brian and Tony Gold, Diana King and Cherine Anderson.
Dunbar said he preferred Anniversary to Amazing "because the songs on Anniversary are classic".
The twins released other works this year, an album called More Baltimore, 20 songs done on the same rhythm by several artistes including Tony Rebel, General Degree, Lutan Fyah, Richie Stephens, Frisco Kidd and Len Hammond, along with Jimmy Riley's Pull Up Selector, a 16-track CD of songs from the legendary crooner.