KEZNAMDI
Jamaican reggae artist, songwriter, and performer whose music connects roots reggae with contemporary and global influences.
Winner of the 2026 GRAMMY Award for Best Reggae Album for BLXXD & FYAH.
Released projects including Bridging the Gap (2013), Skyline Levels, Vol. 1 (2017), Bloodline (2020), and BLXXD & FYAH (2025).
Collaborated with artists including Chronixx, Mavado, Masicka, Marlon Asher, and Kelissa.
His song “Colonial Bondage” features in the documentary Beach Inna Bondage: The Fight for Jamaica’s Coastline, which explores public access to Jamaica’s coastline and beaches.
Supports young people and families in Jamaica through his annual Back-to-School initiative.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Keznamdi McDonald is a reggae artist, songwriter, and performer whose music reflects a life shaped by Jamaican roots, Rastafari culture, and international experiences. The son of musicians from the reggae group Chakula, he grew up surrounded by music and cultural activism. He recorded his first song, “Mix A Color,” at just five years old, beginning a musical journey that would take him across Jamaica, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and the United States.
His upbringing across different cultures helped shape an artistic identity grounded in reggae while open to a broad range of influences. After a knee injury ended his promising football ambitions, Keznamdi committed himself fully to music. In 2013, he released his debut EP, Bridging the Gap, which reached No. 1 on both the iTunes and Billboard Reggae Albums charts. He continued building his audience with Skyline Levels, Vol. 1 in 2017, featuring “Victory” with Chronixx, before releasing Bloodline in 2020, a project exploring heritage, identity, and legacy and recorded at his family’s Skyline Levels studio.
Keznamdi entered a new chapter with BLXXD & FYAH, released in August 2025, further exploring the connections between reggae’s traditions and contemporary sounds. The album features collaborations with Mavado, Masicka, Marlon Asher, and his sister Kelissa. In February 2026, the project earned him the GRAMMY Award for Best Reggae Album at the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Following the GRAMMY win, Keznamdi continued to expand his international live presence, with sold-out performances in Los Angeles and New York . In 2026, he is working on his third studio album, building on the momentum of BLXXD & FYAH and continuing his exploration of reggae’s roots and contemporary global influences. The forthcoming project marks the next chapter in his musical journey as he reaches new audiences internationally.
Beyond recording and performing, Keznamdi uses his music to engage with cultural and social issues. His song “Colonial Bondage” features in Beach Inna Bondage: The Fight for Jamaica’s Coastline, a documentary made in collaboration with filmmakers Emiel Martens and Elsie Vermeer and the Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (JaBBEM). The film examines public access to Jamaica’s coastline and beaches, bringing questions of cultural heritage, environmental protection, and community rights into focus. Screened at festivals and cultural events across North America, the Caribbean, and Europe, the documentary has also received recognition through the Caribbean Film Awards, including a nomination for Best Documentary.
Community involvement remains an important part of Keznamdi’s work. Through his annual Back-to-School initiative, he supports students and families in Jamaica, maintaining a connection to the communities that shaped him. This commitment reflects the wider themes of identity, resilience, and social awareness that run through his music.
From his early releases to the GRAMMY winning BLXXD & FYAH, Keznamdi’s artistic journey reflects a continued evolution of his sound, blending reggae’s roots with contemporary global influences. As he works on his third studio album in 2026, he continues to push his creative boundaries while staying connected to the cultural identity and conscious storytelling at the heart of his music.
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