Rebelution claims Billboard’s best-selling Reggae Album of 2014. New records from SOJA, Tribal Seeds, Iration, and The Green in this year’s top 10 best-selling Reggae albums.
The American music magazine Billboard, known for maintaining several internationally recognized record charts has closed out 2014, publishing their year ending issue, and releasing their year-end album charts.
The Billboard 200, ranking albums of any genre solely on sales, is a chart many people primarily follow. Every week Billboard sorts this chart, listing the top 50 highest selling albums in each genre. As with the top 200, these top 50 include only sales figures from physical CDs and digital downloads of the record.
2014 was another year of declining record sales, but it was a year that delivered an excellent bunch of new records. Looking through Billboard’s final lists for the year, The Pier focused in on the Reggae chart. Once again, for a third consecutive year, American based Reggae-Rock acts take up a majority of the top spots on the list. And great records from Jamaica’s rising star, and legendary veteran fill in the remaining spaces. 2014 was another big year for Reggae, especially the fusion of alternative US groups. The newly compiled highlights from those featured reflect an impressive following, showing why bands in the genre were seen at music festivals all over the country, and continued to pack venues playing a multitude of successful national tours this year. Enjoy these albums below:
Rebelution – Count Me In
Named by Billboard as 2014’s best-selling Reggae album of the year was Rebelution’s Count Me In. Released in June, the album sold over 17,000 copies in its first week, and was their second consecutive debut in the top 15 on the Top 200, entering at number 14. To date, it has sold over 38,000 copies. This marks the third time that this Santa Barbara, California band has out sold others on the Reggae chart.
SOJA – Amid the Noise and Haste
Taking the second spot on the list was Amid the Noise and Haste by SOJA. Produced by the infamous ‘Supa Dups’ the record is nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 57th Grammy Awards. One of the most internationally followed American Reggae bands, the groups’ sixth studio record was released in August via ATO Records. Debuting at number one, the record sold over 12,000 copies, scoring the band their highest chart debut position at No. 20 on the Billboard 200. To date, the record has sold over 22,000 copies.
Ziggy Marley – Fly Rasta
Released in April, Ziggy Marley’s 5th studio album, Fly Rasta, also topped Billboard’s Reggae Album chart. The most commercially successful album by a Jamaican Reggae artist in 2014, Fly Rasta has sold more than 16,000 copies to date. Produced by Ziggy via Tuff Gong Worldwide Fly Rasta is also a nominee for Best Reggae Album at the 57th Grammy Awards, Ziggy’s second consecutive nomination.
Tribal Seeds – Representing
Appearing as the sixth ranked record, Representing by Tribal Seeds gives this San Diego, California band’s first Billboard number one. Released in May, it was met with high praise & a 4 Star Review by The Pier. Featuring an array of collaborations, the groups first full-length release since 2009, this LP has sold over 9,000 copies to date.
Iration – Automatic
Originally from Hawaii, Iration is now based out of Santa Barbara, California. Their third studio album, Automatic was released back in July of 2013 sold 8,000 copies in its first week. Still selling well, to date, this record has sold just under 20,000 copies.
Chronixx – Dread & Terrible
Taking the 8th spot is Dread and Terrible by Chronixx. Released at number one in April with less than 1,000 copies sold, following a highly talked about performance on NBC’s The Tonight Show, his record sold over 2,700 copies the following week. The album has now sold over 7,000 copies to date.
The Green – Hawaii ’13
Rounding out the list at the tenth spot, now a prominent Hawaiian Reggae band, The Green topped the Billboard Reggae Album chart with their third album Hawaii ’13. Also released in 2013, still going strong, to date, this record has sold over 16,000 copies.
Article By: Aaron Solomon
Photo By: Peter Monti