It was a special night for the Reggae Gospel fraternity, as up-and-coming Birmingham, UK artist LaToyah Bless, won Best Reggae/Dancehall artist, at the TMMP Awards. LaToyah’s win seals her as the first female artist in the UK, to win the category. The accolade opens the floodgates for the first of many female artists expected to flow through a growing and expanding genre. Also nominated in the Reggae/Dancehall category were, Chris Da Ambassada, DJ Shunz, Joshua Kesler, Maestro Bravest and Minister Taf.

The only other female artist in the UK, to the best of knowledge, to have won in a similar category, is Billboard and BDS artist Keziah Job, winning ‘Best Reggae Artist at the GX Awards, with her June 2021 anthem ‘He’s Been Good To Me’.

The TMMP awards were held at the Life Church in Bradford, on the 13th of August 2022. It is their second year as an awarding body and their first in-person awards ceremony, since the Pandemic.

Speaking backstage to Reggae Tribe’s Keziah Job, after picking up her award, LaToyah says. “The song that brought me to everyone’s attention is Light It Up”. Which is LaToyah’s debut release and launch as a Gospel artist.

When asked who is the man’s voice at the beginning of Light It Up. LaToyah explained. “That’s His Excellency Prophet Uebert Angel, it was in one of his sermons last year, at ‘Spirit Embassy’ Good News Church. He (Prophet Uebert Angel) was talking about a vision he had of heaven, he saw a man singing ‘Ragga’. I remember watching the sermon, and saying this is going to be in the song.”

New single

LaToyah recently released her second single ‘Rise Up’, almost a year after her debut single hit the airwaves. Notice the love for the word ‘UP’, which also formed the title of the artist’s debut track.

One could easily credit LaToyah Bless as a seasoned artist, such is the buzz and ease into the music scene. This year the colourful singer, was featured in Premier Gospel’s “Ones To Watch 2022”, one of UK’s leading radio stations.

Connect with LaToyah Bless

Check out the TMMP Nominees & Winners Playlist