Mark Anthony Myrie, renowned as Buju Banton is a great Jamaican artist and was the youngest of 15 children for his mother. July 15, 1973 marks the day, when one of Jamaica’s reggae and dancehall icon arrive into this world. Buju’s life is one, which should be titled “Not an Easy Road”. Buju grew up in the inner-city area of Salt Lane in Kingston. After struggling with a life of poverty, Buju Banton, who is otherwise called the Gargamel rose to stardom for his creative dancehall lyrics. Today, this has rewarded him with international recognition and Grammy awards.
Early in his teenage years, Buju started to thrill Jamaicans with his unique, husky vocals in his dancehall and reggae songs. With his popular tune of “Love Me Browning”, Buju’s career and music soar to eminence. The out spoken character of Buju is greatly influenced by his Rastafarian beliefs. As a youth, Buju picked up his likes of the dancehall, where he would watch his favorite local entertainers perform at shows and at dances. During this time, he would mimic them until he perfected his craft.
Even though his first original single did not gain much recognition, Buju continued to strive for excellence when he produced the hit single of “Boom Bye Bye” which caused much controversy. The lyrics of this song were intended for a particular case of buggery that took place in Jamaica at the time, when a man molested a boy. However, the international gay community saw the song as invoking violence against them.
For many years, the Gargamel has become equal with modern age reggae music known as dancehall. With his profusion of lyrical ecstasy, Buju is well loved in Jamaica and around the world. Undeniably, Buju is one of the most popular entertainers to have grace the shores of Jamaica. As such he is blessed with a large collection of number one hits. This includes his popular songs like “Bogle”, “Love Me Browning”, “Not an Easy Road”, “Love Black Woman”, “Wanna Be Loved” and “‘Til I’m Laid to Rest”. These songs were a huge hit on both the local and international charts. 1992 was a great year for Buju as the explosive singer broke Bob Marley’s singles record when he became the artist who had the most number one singles in any year.
In 1993, Buju produced an album called Voice of Jamaica, which relates to social oppression and injustices. With songs like “Deportee” and “Don’t Be Silly”; this album was a great one, and it helped him to raise much needed money for the HIV positive children in Jamaica. However, because of his song “Boom Bye Bye”, Buju did not gain much recognition because the homosexual society did not forgive him for the song.
Nevertheless, he released another album called Till Shiloh in 1995. The songs on this album shocked the listening audiences around the world, who saw yet another side of the Gargamel. No sexual or violent contents were included in this album, just purely conscious lyrics that rewarded him with esteemed respect. The album featured songs like “Murderer”, “Champion”, “Wanna Be Loved” and “Untold Stories”, which are some of his greatest hits ever.
In his 1997 album, Inna Heights, Buju created a variety of songs based on different themes, ranging from spiritual to romantic songs. The album included hits like “Our Father in Zion”, “Hills and Valleys”, “Close One Yesterday”, “Love Sponge” and “Circumstances”. This album showed the versatility and unique skills of Buju.
Often compared to the legendary Bob Marley, Buju Banton is regarded as the only entertainer talented enough to connect dancehall music with inspiring spiritual songs. This has earned him a prophet like status in the Rastafarian community and among his fellow Jamaicans. This often caused all his shows and performances to be sold out. Despite all of his struggles with the gay community, Buju has often said “if God is for mi then who can be against him”.
In 2000, Buju released his “Unchained Spirit” album. This album expressed the side of him that most persons have come to love and adore. The Gargamel continued to show freedom of affection to his skills of lyrical energy. With songs like “Pull It Up”, “Life Is A Journey” and “Better Must Come”. The album went on to selling over a million copies worldwide.
A blow came to Buju’s musical career in late 2009, when the entertainer was slapped with charges for allegedly conspiring to distribute and possession of more than five kilos of cocaine. This was the same year of his album Rasta Got Soul. Buju spent about a year in jail, and then went to trial in which the case was deemed a mistrial, as the jurors could not reach a verdict in September 2010.
Subsequently, he was released in November on bond, with strict regulations and conditions he had to abide by. A new trial date was set for February 14, 2011, in which he was tried again for an additional charge of gun possession with the ones mentioned above. He was found guilty of all charges with the exception of attempted possession of five kilograms or more of cocaine. His conviction has sparked a lot of controversy about whether or not he was guilty as most of his supporters and friends don’t believe that he is a drug dealer.
A few weeks before his conviction, Buju won the Best Reggae Album of the Year award for his Rasta Got Soul album. Buju’s life is the perfect reflection of his hit single “Not an Easy Road” as he went from exploring the realms of rock steady, reggae, gospel, and American soul to being convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
