CaribWorldNews, LOS ANGELES, LA, Thurs. Dec. 3, 2009: He`s been criticized as a homophobe and his concerts targeted by gay activists bent on shutting him down. But Jamaican reggae singer, Buju Banton, last night reigned over the recent challenges to win himself a 2009 Grammy nomination.

Banton, who has been severely criticized for the `Boom Bye, Bye` song he sang as a teenager, last night headed the Best Reggae Album category of the Grammy nominations with his Rasta Got soul album on his Gargamel Music, Inc. label.

It is the fourth nomination for Banton, born Mark Anthony Myrie in Kingston, Jamaica in 1973.

Also making the reggae nomination list this year is veteran singer, Gregory Issacs for his `Brand New Me` album as well as Sean Paul for `Imperial Blaze,` Stephen Marley for `Mind Control — Acoustic` and Julian Marley for `Awake.`

Nominations for the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards were announced last night by The Recording Academy and reflected an eclectic mix of the best and brightest over the past year in music, as determined by the voting members of The Academy.

Beyoncé topped the nominations with 10, Taylor Swift garnered eight, and the Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell, and Kanye West each earned six nods. David Guetta, Jay-Z and Lady Gaga received five each; and Colbie Caillat, Michael Giacchino, Kings Of Leon, John Newton, RedOne, Bruce Springsteen, T-Pain, and Keith Urban each received four nominations.