Minna LaFortune Aims for the GRAMMY® 2026 with Dance with Me, Vol. II

The international reggae scene is buzzing with excitement as Jamaican-born, Brooklyn-based singer and songwriter Minna LaFortune officially submits her latest project, Dance with Me, Vol. II, for the prestigious Best Reggae Album category at the 68th GRAMMY® Awards, set to take place on February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles, CA.

An album bridging reggae and global sounds

Released on June 7, 2025, Dance with Me, Vol. II is more than a reggae album—it blends reggae, afrobeat, dancehall, and amapiano into a vibrant and conscious soundscape. Each track delivers a universal message of peace, unity, social justice, ecological awareness, and the celebration of life.

The project has already received critical acclaim. Pull-Up MAG praised it as:

“An album where every song carries a powerful message—whether calling for unity, love, or raising social awareness. Her unique approach, emotive voice, and captivating rhythms make this a must-listen for reggae fans and anyone who believes in music as a catalyst for change.”

Standout tracks competing for more GRAMMY® categories

Two standout singles from the album have also been submitted for special awards:

• “Cease Fire” – Best Global Music Performance: a heartfelt anthem against urban violence, highlighting tragedies in New York, Haiti, Trinidad, and Soweto. Over a modern “new roots” reggae foundation infused with hip-hop, LaFortune delivers the powerful line: “Too many young people lose their lives in their teens, in their twenties, caught in a cycle of death and violence.”

  
  

• “Global Warming” – Best Song for Social Change: a bold reminder of humanity’s responsibility to reverse climate change and protect the planet.

The journey of a powerful voice

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and now based in Brooklyn, NY, Minna LaFortune received her early classical training at Ardenne High School under the late Dr. Noel Dexter, OD. She performed with the Diocesan Festival Choir and the Methodist Chorale, before winning the Bronze Medal for soprano soloist at the Jamaica National Music Competition in 1975.

Her influences range from reggae pioneers Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, and Marcia Griffiths, to jazz and soul icons Nancy Wilson and Aretha Franklin. Since releasing her debut album Dance with Me, Vol. I in 2023, followed by Caribbean Christmas, LaFortune has steadily built her path as a dynamic and versatile artist.

More than music: activism and culture

Beyond her musical career, LaFortune is a cultural leader. She is the co-founder and president of the Society for the Advancement of the Caribbean Diaspora (SACD) and the founder of the vocal group Afro Carib-A Singers. She has also shared her culinary heritage through contributions to NewsAmericaNow.com, Caribbean News Weekly, and WiredJa. She is currently working on a book that combines her poetry with authentic Caribbean recipes.

A mission rooted in unity and empowerment

With Dance with Me, Vol. II, Minna LaFortune delivers more than music—she offers an artistic manifesto celebrating Caribbean heritage, calling for unity, empowerment, and joy. Her mission is clear: to connect cultures and inspire change across the African Diaspora and beyond.

As the music industry eagerly awaits the official GRAMMY® nominations for 2026, one thing is certain: Minna LaFortune is emerging as a powerful voice in contemporary reggae, using her art to uplift, unite, and drive social change.

"Equally committed to reality, Jamaican Minna LaFortune draws attention in her new single Cease Fire to urban violence in her country, in New York, in Haiti, in Trinidad and in Soweto. Over a powerful new roots reggae foundation infused with hip-hop elements, LaFortune sings from tragedy: 'Too many young people lose their lives in their teenage years or in their twenties, trapped in a cycle of death and violence.' "

Daniel Flores (Editor-in-chief of Rolling Stone Argentina)