Buju Banton won the Excellence in Music & Entertainment (EME) Album Of The Year award for Too Bad, beating out such fierce contenders as Stephen Marley, Tarrus Riley, Da'Ville, Chuck Fender and Lady Saw. Created by top Jamaican radio personality Richard "Richie B" Burgess, who hosts the world renown Jamaica Music Countdown on Hot 102, the 2008 EME awards were given out at a star-studded ceremony last Thursday night in Kingston.

Buju Banton's Too Bad officially dropped in Jamaica in late December 2006 and soon entered the Jamaica Music Countdown's Top 10 Albums chart the week of February 9, 2007. Four weeks later, on March 2, 2007, it reached #1 -- the best movement by any album on the chart to date, according to Burgess. Too Bad sat perched in the # 1 spot for 8 solid weeks and spent a total of 19 weeks on the top album chart, ending its lengthy reign on June 15, 2007.

"I am not surprised that Too Bad emerged the winner in the Album Of The Year category," explains Richie B. "It was always going to be hard to beat on the strength of Buju's monster hit "Driver A," but most importantly for me is the fact that Buju once again raised the bar by coming out with a dancehall album where all the songs are clean, wholesome and fit for radio play." Burgess adds, "Best wishes Buju, you separate the men from the boys!"

Richie B's weekly Jamaica Music Countdown can be heard each and every friday afternoon from 4:15pm - 5:00pm on Hot 102 FM in Jamaica. The Top 10 is presented later on TVJ's Entertainment Report on Fridays at 8:00pm. The full chart is also printed weekly in the X News paper.

In other awards show news, Buju Banton has been nominated for Most Popular Artist by the Reggae Academy Awards. The Most Popular Artist category is one of two awards that will be decided by the general public. The brainchild of local entertainment attorney Lloyd Stanbury and the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica (RIAJ), the 1st Annual Reggae Academy Awards show will take place on February 24th at the National Indoor Sports Center in Kingston. Fans can cast their vote for Buju Banton now at www.reggaeacademy.com