Buju BantonBackground informationBirth nameMark Anthony MyrieAlso known asGargamelBorn( 1973-07-15) 15 July 1973 (age 46),Genres,Occupation(s), singer, songwriter, musicianYears active1987–2011, 2018–presentLabelsGargamel Music/Loose Cannon//Buju Banton (born Mark Anthony Myrie; 15 July 1973) is a and musician. He is widely considered one of the most significant and well-regarded artists in. Banton has collaborated with many international artists, including those in the, and genres, as well as the sons of.Banton released a number of dancehall singles as early as 1987 but came to prominence in 1992 with two albums, Stamina Daddy and Mr. Mention, the latter which became the best-selling album in Jamaican history upon its release. That year he also broke the record for #1 singles in Jamaica, previous held by Bob Marley.

1. Friends For Life Buju Banton Zip Line

He signed with the major label and released Voice of Jamaica in 1993. By the mid-1990s, Banton's music became more influenced by his faith, as heard on the seminal albums and Inna Heights.In 2009, he was arrested on drug-related charges in the and his first trial resulted in a hung jury. His 2010 album Before the Dawn won Best Reggae Album at the. In 2011, he was convicted on the same criminal charge and was in the U.S. Until December 2018, whereupon he was deported home to. Contents.Biography Background Buju Banton was born in, Jamaica in a poor neighbourhood known as Salt Lane.

Buju is a nickname given to him by his mother as a child. Banton is a Jamaican word that refers to someone who is a respected storyteller, and it was adopted by Myrie in tribute to the, whom Buju admired as a child. Buju emulated Burro's rough vocals and forceful delivery, developing his own distinctive style. Buju's mother was a, or, while his father worked as a labourer at a factory.

He was the youngest of fifteen children born into a family that was directly descended from the of Jamaica.Banton has homes in and (United States). He also has 15 children. Early career As a youngster, Buju would often watch his favourite artists perform at outdoor shows and local dancehalls in. At the age of 12, he picked up the for himself and began under the moniker of, working with the Sweet Love.

In 1986, he was introduced to producer by fellow deejay, and his first single, 'The Ruler' was released not long afterward in 1987. This led to recording sessions with producers such as Patrick Roberts, and.1990s In 1991, Buju joined 's label and began a fruitful partnership with producer who later launched his own label. Buju is one of the most popular musicians in, having major chart success in 1992, with 'Bogle' and 'Love me ', both massive hits in Jamaica. Controversy erupted over 'Love Me Browning' which spoke of Banton's for brown-skinned women: 'Mi love my car mi love my bike mi love mi money and ting, but most of all mi love mi browning.' Some accused Banton of denigrating the beauty of darker skinned black women. In response, he released 'Love Black Woman,' which spoke of his love for dark-skinned beauties: 'Mi nuh Stop cry, fi all black women, respect all the girls dem with dark '. 1992 was an explosive year for Buju as he broke 's record for the greatest number of #1 singles in a year.

Buju's gruff voice dominated the Jamaican airwaves for the duration of the year. Banton's debut album, Mr. Mention, includes many of his greatest hits from that year including 'Bonafide Love' featuring Wayne Wonder, the singer who first brought Buju out as a guest star on the annual Jamaican stage show Sting. 1992 also saw the unsanctioned re-release of 'Boom Bye Bye,' a controversial song recorded several years earlier when the artist was 15 years old, which resulted in a backlash that threatened to destroy his career. Several years later, the song would later become the subject of outrage in the United States and Europe, leading to Banton being dropped from the line-up of the festival as well as numerous other scheduled performances. Banton subsequently issued a public apology.Now on the major / label, Banton released the hard-hitting in 1993.

The album included a number of conscious tracks. These tracks included 'Deportees', a song which criticises those Jamaicans who went abroad but never sent money home; 'Tribal War' a collaboration with Tony Rebel, Brian & Tony Gold, and Terry Ganzie, a sharp condemnation of political violence that interpolates 's classic reggae song of the same name; and 'Willy, Don't Be Silly', which promotes and the use of, particularly the, profits from which were donated to a charity supporting children with.

Banton was invited to meet Jamaican Prime Minister, and won several awards that year at the and the.Some of Banton's lyrics dealt with violent themes, which he explained as reflecting the images that young Jamaicans were presented with by the news media. The reality of Kingston's violence was brought home in 1993 by the murders in separate incidents of three of his friends and fellow recording artists, the deejays and Dirtsman and singer Mickey Simpson. His response was the single 'Murderer', which condemned gun violence, going against the flow of the prevailing lyrical content in dancehall. The song inspired several clubs to stop playing songs with the excessively violent subject matter. Late in 1994, Buju was also affected by the death of his friend. Buju's transformation continued, as he embraced the and began growing. His performances and musical releases took on a.

Banton toured Europe and Japan, playing sold-out shows.(1995) was a very influential album, incorporating live instrumentation as well as digital rhythms, and incorporating the sounds of along with the harder-edged dancehall sounds that first made Banton famous. The artist was embracing his Rastafari faith and his new album reflected these beliefs. Til Shiloh successfully blended conscious lyrics with a hard-hitting dancehall vibe. The album included earlier singles such as 'Murderer' along with instant classics like 'Wanna Be Loved' and '.

'Untold Stories' revealed an entirely different side of Buju Banton from the one that had stormed to dancehall stardom. It is regarded by many as one of his best works and has become a staple in the Banton performance repertoire. Reminiscent in mood and delivery to ' by, 'Untold Stories' won Buju Banton many favorable comparisons to the late singer. This album had a profound impact on dancehall music and proved that dancehall audiences had not forgotten the message that Roots Reggae expounded with the use of 'conscious lyrics'.

Dancehall artists did not abandon slack and violent lyrics altogether, but the album did pave the way for a greater spirituality within the music. In the wake of Buju's transformation to, many artists, such as, embraced the faith and began to denounce violence in their music.In 1996, Buju contributed 'Wanna Be Loved (Desea ser Amado)' along with to the 's album for the.

This series raises money to increase AIDS awareness.That same year Buju Banton took control of his business by establishing his own Gargamel Music label, releasing the popular single 'Love Sponge' on vinyl in Jamaica and overseas. In years to come Gargamel would expand into an outlet for Buju's own productions and providing an outlet for fresh new talent.(1997) substantially increased Banton's international audience as Buju explored his singing ability and recorded a number of -tinged tracks, including the hugely popular 'Destiny' and 'Hills and Valleys'.

The album also included collaborations with artists such as and the legendary. The album was well-received by fans at the time and critics praised Buju's soaring vocals. The album has aged well and remains a highly regarded work over 20 years after its release.In 1998, Buju met the band and recorded three tracks with them: 'No More Misty Days', 'Hooligans' and '. The latter became the title track of Rancid's 1998 album,.2000s. Buju Banton performing in 2007.Buju signed with, a subsidiary of 's records, and released in 2000. The album showcased diverse musical styles, and featured guest appearances by,. It carried little of the roots feel heard on Til Shiloh and virtually none of the hardcore dancehall sound which had brought him to public acclaim early in his career.Several singles followed in the start of the new decade, which was perceived as more mellow and introspective, as opposed to the dancehall approach of his early career.

In March 2003, Banton released, which featured more sharply political songs, including 'Mr. Nine', an anti-gun song that was a hit in Jamaica's dancehalls as well as internationally. The album focused on political messages regarding the, featuring excerpts from a speech made.

'Paid Not Played', also featured on the album, displayed a gradual return to the themes more popular in dancehall. The album also featured some influence with the inclusion of rapper.2006 saw the release of the, an album that was more dancehall-oriented in style. One of the slower tracks from the album, ', went on to become a major hit, while at the same time reviving 's ' riddim.Banton performed at the with and.The album Rasta Got Soul was released on 21 April 2009, a date which marked the 43rd anniversary of Emperor 's visit to Jamaica in 1966. Produced by Banton, with contributions from longtime collaborators, and, Rasta Got Soul was a 100% roots reggae album recorded over a seven-year period before its release.

It went on to earn Banton his fourth Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album in 2010.2010s On 13 February 2011, one day before the scheduled start of his second court trial in, Buju Banton's Before the Dawn album was announced as the winner of Best Reggae Album at the.Upon his release from prison in the United States in December 2018, Banton started The Long Walk To Freedom tour and performed his first concert at in on 16 March 2019, the concert attracted over 30.000 people. During his tour, he continued putting out new music and new singles including Bagga Mouth, False Pretense, and Country for Sale.On 10 May 2019, Banton released Country For Sale, the song topped the iTunes Reggae Chart within minutes after the announcement of its release.

The song was recorded at the Gargamel Music Studio, Donovan Germain's own recording studio in the Corporate Area. According to Donovan Germain, 'since the artiste's release, there have been a number of requests for collaborations with other local and international acts'. On November 12th of the same year, he released his first official music video entitled “Trust”. The video marked the first anniversary of Banton's release from prison and was produced in collaboration with and directed by Kieran Khan. The track peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Reggae Digital Song Sales chart.On November 22, 2019 Banton announced his partnership Jay-Z's Roc Nation to become the second Jamaican reggae artist to represent Roc Nation, which coincided with the release of his music video Steppa. He also announced that Island Records will be the distributor of Banton and Roc Nation's new music.

Controversies Homophobia Banton has been criticised for the lyrical content of his song 'Boom Bye Bye', which was released when he was 19 years old in 1992. The song has been interpreted as supporting the murder of gay men although others have argued that the song's lyrics should be read as metaphorical, following in a long tradition of exaggerated rhetorical violence in Jamaican dancehall music.

In 2009 gay-rights groups appealed to venues around the United States not to host Buju Banton.In 2007 Banton was allegedly among a number of reggae artists who signed a pledge, called the Reggae Compassionate Act, created by the campaign, to refrain from performing songs or making homophobic statements. The Act stated that the signers 'do not encourage nor minister to HATE but rather uphold a philosophy of LOVE, RESPECT, and UNDERSTANDING towards all human beings as the cornerstone of reggae music' and promised that the artists involved no longer believed in sexism, homophobia, or violence and that they would not perform music that went against these beliefs on stage. Banton later denied that he had made any such commitment, although he did refrain from performing 'Boom Bye Bye' and other offensive songs at the 2007 Reggae Carifest concert.On March 20, 2019, Buju Banton and his team officially removed 'Boom Bye Bye' from his catalog. Banton's team pulled the song from streaming platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify, and Banton announced his intention to never perform the song again. Banton issued a statement in which he clarified the importance of tolerance and love, saying, 'In recent days there has been a great deal of press coverage about the song ‘Boom Bye Bye’ from my past which I long ago stopped performing and removed from any platform that I control or have influence over. I recognize that the song has caused much pain to listeners, as well as to my fans, my family and myself.

After all the adversity we’ve been through I am determined to put this song in the past and continue moving forward as an artist and as a man. I affirm once and for all that everyone has the right to live as they so choose. In the words of the great Dennis Brown, ‘Love and hate can never be friends.’ I welcome everyone to my shows in a spirit of peace and love. Please come join me in that same spirit.' Drug charges. Mug shot of Banton taken shortly after his arrest.In December 2009 agents remanded Banton to custody in Miami, where the U.S.

Attorney charged him with conspiracy to distribute and possession of more than five kilograms of. Banton was then moved to the where he remained until trial.A six-day trial in was declared a mistrial on 27 September 2010, after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision.

During the trial, audio recordings were presented of Banton and a drug-dealer-turned- discussing drugs, drug prices and smuggling. Banton was also seen on a video recording meeting the informant in a police-controlled warehouse tasting cocaine from a kilogram bag. The informant was reportedly paid $50,000 for his work on the case.The singer was released that November on bond.He was allowed to perform one concert between trials, which was held on 16 January 2011 to a sold-out crowd in Miami. A few weeks after the performance he won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album but was not allowed to attend the ceremony.On 22 February 2011, Banton was found guilty of to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense and using communication wires to facilitate a drug-trafficking offense. He was found not guilty on the charge of attempted possession of five kilograms or more of cocaine. Four months later, he was sentenced to ten years and one month in a federal prison for the cocaine trafficking conviction.

His sentencing on a related firearms conviction (despite the fact that Banton was never found with a gun) was scheduled for 30 October 2012, and then postponed on his lawyer's request for an investigation of possible juror misconduct. Despite the fact that a juror was found guilty of misconduct, Buju Banton waived his right to an appeal. On 14 May 2015 federal prosecutors agreed to drop the firearms charge.Banton was released on 7 December 2018 from. Discography. Larkin, Colin (1998) 'The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae', Virgin Books,. MacLeod, Erin (7 December 2018).

Retrieved 26 February 2019. Karmini, Faith (9 December 2018).

Friends For Life Buju Banton Zip Line

Retrieved 26 February 2019. Iannelli, Jerry (7 December 2018). Retrieved 26 February 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2018.

^ Meschino, Patricia (18 December 2018). Retrieved 26 February 2019. Arnold, Erik K. (6 October 2006). San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 26 February 2019.

Americas, News. Caribbeantoday.com. ^ Thompson, Dave (2002) 'Reggae & Caribbean Music', Backbeat Books,.

', billboard.com, 8 January 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2013. Walker, Karyl (2010) ' 19 December 2013 at the ', 16 September 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2013. Henry, Paul (2011) ' 11 August 2013 at the ', 12 June 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2013. Stacy, Motch (2011) ', 23 June 2011.

Retrieved 31 August 2013. Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) 'The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn.' , Rough Guides,. Moskowitz, David V. (2006) Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, p.20. Spaulding, Gary. 25 February 2011 at the.

Jamaica Gleaner. 13 December 2009. Retrieved 2011-2-28. 29 September 2010. Archived from on 28 June 2011.

Retrieved 19 February 2013. Writer, Staff (12 December 2019). Retrieved 13 December 2019. ^ Leight, Elias; Leight, Elias (22 November 2019). Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 December 2019. Jamaica Observer.

Retrieved 13 December 2019. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019., HipHopDX- (23 November 2019). Retrieved 13 December 2019. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.

Nelson, Leah. Retrieved 19 February 2013. GLN MURDER MUSIC NEWS.

Topping, Alexandra., The Guardian, 23 July 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2019. 2 January 2011 at the, 9 October 2008., UrbanIslandz.com, 20 March 2019., 22 March 2019. Katz, Neil (14 December 2009).

Retrieved 9 July 2011. ^ Hutcheson, Nicole (28 September 2010). Petersburg Times. Archived from on 1 October 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2011.

Archived from on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2011. CS1 maint: archived copy as title.

Park, Esther (17 January 2011). Miami New Times. Retrieved 9 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2018. Luton, Daraine.

Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 23 February 2011. Stacy, Mitch (23 June 2011). Miami Herald. Retrieved 29 June 2011.

Henry, Paul. Archived from on 2 November 2012.

Retrieved 11 February 2013. FOX. Retrieved 9 July 2018.

Jamaica Observer. Archived from on 17 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.

Boom Bye Bye / 2004 Track TitleBitrateDurationDownload Free MP3Boom Bye Bye (Vocal Mix)208 kbps5:56Boom Bye Bye (Instrumental)212 kbps6:00Friends For Life / 2003 Track TitleBitrateDurationDownload Free MP3All Will Be Fine192 kbps5:33Damn192 kbps4:21Excerpt Of Speech By M.garvey192 kbps0:59Feeling Groovy192 kbps3:45Friends For Life192 kbps3:56Get It On Feat. Wayne Wonder192 kbps3:31Good Time (feat.Fat Joe and Beres Hammond)192 kbps4:33Hooked On The Love192 kbps4:00La Da De Da192 kbps3:29Mama Africa192 kbps4:53Maybe We Are192 kbps6:29Mr.