Buju Banton Biography
Buju Banton is a Jamaican dancehall and reggae musician. He is widely considered one of the most significant and well-regarded artists in Jamaican music. His 2010 album Before the Dawn won Best Reggae Album at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards.
Buju Banton Real Name
Reggae artist Buju Banton’s real names are Mark Anthony Myrie. 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 deejay Burro Banton, whom Buju admired as a child.
Buju Banton Age
Mark Anthony Myrie was born on 15 July 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica in a poor neighborhood known as Salt Lane. Buju’s Zodiac Sign is Cancer. As of 2019 mark, Anthony/Buju Banton is 43 years old. He celebrates his birthday on 15 July every year.
Buju Banton Career
Buju’s interest in music began while he was at a very tender. Buju revealed that he would often watch his favorite artists perform at outdoor shows and local dancehalls in Denham Town.
At the age of 12, he picked up the microphone for himself and began toasting under the moniker of Gargamel, working with the Sweet Love and Rambo Mango sound systems.
In 1986, he was introduced to producer Robert Ffrench by fellow deejay Clement Irie, and his first single, “The Ruler” was released not long afterward in 1987.
This resulted in recording sessions with producers such as Patrick Roberts, Bunny Lee, Winston Riley, and Digital B.
Buju Banton Songs
♦ “Stamina Daddy”
♦ “Louw Di Buddy”
♦ “Mumma Long & Tongue”
♦ “Quick” – 3:27
♦ “Bring You Body Come”
♦ “Gold Spoon”
♦ “Gun Unnu Want”
♦ “General”
♦ “Glamatize”
♦ “Mampy Size”
♦ “Bring You Body Come”
♦ “Stamina Daddy”
♦ “Louw Di Buddy”
♦ “Mumma Long & Tongue”
♦ “Gold Spoon”
♦ “Gun Unnu Want”
♦ “General”
♦ “Glamatize”
♦ “Mandy Size”
♦ “Batty Rider”
♦ “Love How the Gal-Dem Flex”
♦ “Love Black Woman”
♦ “Look How You Sweet”
♦ “Woman No Fret”
♦ “Have to Get You Tonight”
♦ “Dickie” 3:45
♦ “Love Me Brownin’”
♦ “Buju Movin’”
♦ “Who Say” (with Beres Hammond)
♦ “The Grudge”
♦ “How the World a Run”
♦ “Buju Love You to the Max”
♦ “Man Fe Dead”
♦ “Bonafide Love”
♦ ” Rasta Can’t Go ”
♦ ” In The Air ”
♦ ” Do Good ”
♦ ” Battered & Bruised ”
♦ ” Bondage ”
♦ ” Struggle Together ”
♦ ” Life ”
♦ ” No Smoking At All ”
♦ ” Try Life ”
♦ ” Innocent ”
Buju Banton Album
♦ 1992: Stamina Daddy (later repackaged as Quick)
♦ 1992: Mr. Mention
♦ 1993: Voice of Jamaica
♦ 1995: ‘Til Shiloh
♦ 1997: Inna Heights
♦ 2000: Unchained Spirit
♦ 2003: Friends for Life
♦ 2006: Too Bad
♦ 2009: Rasta Got Soul
♦ 2010: Before the Dawn
Buju Banton Til Shiloh
’Til Shiloh is the fourth album by Jamaican dancehall artist Buju Banton, released in 1995 on Loose Cannon Records, a short-lived subsidiary of Island Records (see 1995 in music).
His international breakthrough, ’Til Shiloh marked a turn towards a more serious path. Many of the songs on this album explore Buju’s then newfound faith in the Rastafari movement, with songs such as “Til I’m Laid to Rest”, and “Untold Stories”.
This could be seen as a transition from the rude-bwoy style to a more roots-oriented fashion, although the seventh track is based on the hardcore “Arab Attack” riddim.
The title track, which opened the album, was based on an introduction Banton had used in live shows. According to producer Donovan Germain, “‘Til Shiloh means forever.”
In 2002 the album an expanded and remastered edition was released on Island/IDJMG/Universal Records, featuring the tracks “Sensemilia Persecution” and “Rampage.”The album was listed in the 1999 book The Rough Guide: Reggae: 100 Essential CDs.
Buju Banton Unchained Spirit
Unchained Spirit is the sixth studio album by dancehall/reggae artist Buju Banton, released in 2000. It was his first and only album to be released on the ANTI- record label, an imprint of Epitaph Records which was more commonly known for underground;
Also avant-garde Rock music, but was trying to branch out into the Reggae genre, especially on the strength of their release of music by the ska band known as The Slackers.
Aside from the fact that album was on such an unexpected label, Unchained Spirit was simply issued with extremely little promotion. There is no known hit or single from this album.
The song, which includes a sample of Cobra’s “Flex,” includes anti-gay lyrics like “Boom bye bye Inna batty bwoy head/Rude bwoy nah promote no nasty man, dem haffi dead,” which in patios means shooting a gay man in the head.
In the past, Banton has pointed out that he was 15-years-old when he wrote the song, which was originally about a pedophile who was caught molesting young boys in Banton’s neighborhood in Jamaica.
“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,” Banton told Urban Islandz.
Banton hasn’t performed the song since 2007 but decided to speak out once again about the track.
Buju Banton Boom Bye Bye
Banton has been criticised for the lyrical content of his song “Boom Bye Bye”, which was written when he was 15 years old and released four years later, 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.“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.”
In the past week, the song has been removed from streaming services like Spotify, Tidal and Apple Music. The video, which reached nearly 30 million views on YouTube, was also removed from his account.
Banton’s move to mute the song in 2007 was in solidarity with the Reggae Compassionate Act under the Stop Murder Music Campaign. The legislation introduced by the Black Gay Men’s Advisory Group was also supported by other reggae icons like Beenie Man, Bounty Killer;
And Capleton in an effort to bring an end to homophobic lyrics and attacks against the LGBTQ community in Carribean islands. At the time, artists faced backlash for not performing the songs since other tracks like “Boom Bye Bye” became crossover hits.
Jamrock Sound principal Hugh ‘Redman’ James also defended Banton’s decision to ax the song from his catalog. “I go to all the rehearsals and he doesn’t do that song, he doesn’t rehearse that song,” James said. “That is the song that kinda shoots him a bit, so he buries up that.”
Buju Banton Toppa di Top and Dirty Rhythms
Toppa di Top and Dirty Rhythms is a compilation album by various reggae artists, presented by Buju Banton. It was released in 2006.
Buju Banton Awards
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.
Buju Banton U.S. drug charges
In December 2009 Drug Enforcement Administration 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 cocaine.
Banton was then moved to the Pinellas County Jail where he remained until trial. A six-day trial in Tampa, Florida 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 drug-dealer-turned-government-informant 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.
Buju Banton Sentence
On 22 February 2011, Banton was found guilty of conspiracy 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 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.
Buju Banton Education
Buju Banton graduated with a Masters Degree in Music Business Management on June 7, 2016, from the University of New York while incarcerated. Buju Banton earned a master’s degree while in prison.
His two-count-charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession of the substance saw him receive a ten-year sentence. That same year, Banton told the Jamaica Observer he was taking classes while serving time and intended to graduate from the degree program before getting out of jail.
Banton said: “I am already going to classes. I have passed the acceptance test and I will be studying political science and economics. I hope to get a master’s by the time I am released. I can do anything I put my mind to; you know that.
I have balls of steel. People who know me know that I am very determined and will achieve my goals despite hardships. I will not allow the system to conquer me.”
Buju Banton Released
Buju Banton reportedly had his sentence reduced due to good behavior. Media confirmed, “In January, the US Federal Bureau of Prison indicated on its website that the artiste, is to be released on December 8, 2018, instead of the February 2019 date that was initially set for his release.”
Banton was released on 7 December 2018 from McRae Correctional Institution.
Buju Banton Tour
Upon his return home, Grammy Award winner Buju Banton albums began to soar in sales and generate high streaming numbers. Within 24 hours of his return home, Buju had 10 albums on the top 30 U.S;
reggae Itunes charts held the #1 spot on the Reggae album Itunes chart in U.S, U.K and various European countries as well as reached over half a million Instagram fans.
To say the momentum for his return was ‘big’ may seem like an understatement, many are saying it was historic and anticipating his first concert.
On March 16th, 2019, Gargamel Music & Boom Energy in collaboration with Solid Agency and Rockers Island Entertainment Presents Long Walk To Freedom.
Buju Banton Events
MARCH 16 – KINGSTON, JAMAICA @ NATIONAL STADIUM
with Chronixx, Cocoa Tea, Etana, Ghost, Romain Virgo, L.U.S.T, Agent Sasco, Delly Ranx & Jahaziel
MARCH 30 – NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS @ THOMAS A. ROBINSON STADIUMwith Gramps Morgan, Glen Washington, Davido, Lil Duval, Kodak Black, Jah Hem, Willis & The Illest
TICKETS @ PARADISEPRODUCTIONSINC.comAPRIL 21 – PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO @ QUEEN’S PARK SAVANNAHwith Koffee, Luciano, Wayne Wonder, Singing Melody, Mr. King, Ataklan, Isasha, Kes The Band, Ziggy Rankin & Jah Melody
Tickets @ IAMLEGENDCONCERT.comAPRIL 27 – BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS @ BARBADOS REGGAE FESTIVALwith Spragga Benz, Wayne Wonder
Tickets @ TICKETLINKZ.comMAY 4 – PARAMARIBO, SURINAME @ ANDRE KAMPERVEEN STADIONTickets available at local pre-sale shops!
MAY 11 – ST. GEORGE, GRENADA @ NATIONAL STADIUMTickets @ GO2FETE.comMAY 25 – GEORGETOWN, GUYANA @ NATIONAL STADIUMTickets @ IAMLEGENDCONCERT.com
JUNE 15 – TORTOLA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS @ FESTIVAL VILLAGE GROUNDSwith Capleton, Cocoa Tea, Koffee, Pressure, Sista Joyce, Revalation Da Royal, Shine
tickets @LONGWALKTOFREEDOMVI.comJUNE 29 – BASSETERRE @ ST. KITTS MUSIC FESTIVALTickets @ 869GO.comJULY 6 – COLOGNE, GERMANY @ SUMMER JAM Tickets @ SUMMERJAM.de
JULY 7 – AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS @ AFAS LIVEwith Protoje, Anthony B, Agent Sasco & Richie SpiceTickets @ TIBBAA.comJULY 20 – MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA @ REGGAE SUMFESTTickets @ REGGAESUMFEST.com
Canceled! JULY 31 – SACONNEX, SWITZERLAND @ GENEVA ARENAwith Richie Spice, Etana, Eek A Mouse, Major MackerelEVENT CANCELLED!”Last-minute info: The concert of Buju Banton is canceled. For more information, please contact the organizer directly.”Source: Facebook post by Geneva Arena
AUGUST 1 – PORTUGAL @ AFRO NATIONTickets @ AFRONATION.comAUGUST 2 – VERTHEUIL, FRANCE @ REGGAE SUN SKAwith Tiken Jah Fakoly, Calypso Rose and more…Tickets @ DIGITICK.com
AUGUST 3 – GEEL, BELGIUM @ REGGAE GEELwith Busy Signal, Bushman, Agent Sasco and many more…Tickets @REGGAEGEEL.comAUGUST 10 – ANTIGUAEarly Bird Tickets – June 3 – 17, 2019
AUGUST 17 – DEVONSHIRE, BERMUDA @ UNITY FESTTickets @ PTIX.com
OCTOBER 25 – 27(EXACT DATE TBA) – DOMINICA’S WORLD CREOLE MUSIC FESTIVAL
DECEMBER 11 @ WELCOME TO JAMROCK REGGAE CRUISE
Sold out!
2020
APRIL 6 – 11 (EXACT DATE TBC) LOVE & HARMONY CRUISE
with Beres Hammond, Cocoa Tea, Wayne Wonder, Nadine Sutherland
Buju Banton Family
The name of Buju Banton’s father is Benjamin Myrie and mother Merlene Myrie. He has a sister by the name Adena myrie. Additionally, Buju Banton is not married, the name of his recent ex-wife is Nina Atala, previously Buju Banton was married to Lorna stachan.
Buju Banton has four children two daughters and two sons. Their names are: Jodian Myrie, Shadai Myrie , Jahleel Myrie, and Jahazeil Myrie respectively.
Buju Banton Net Worth
According to Forbes and other reliable sources The net worth of Buju Banton is estimated to be around $12.As of 2019 Buju salary and annual income has not been revealed yet at the moment we are undertaking a thorough review on this we will update soon.
Buju’s main source of income comes from his music career. Buju also has a clothing line brand called “Everything BB” and will feature t-shirts that display Banton’s photo and the lyrics “over hills and valley” from his song “Hills and Valleys.”