Content deleted Content added
No edit summary |
|||
Line 9:
| alias = Gargamel
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|7|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], Jamaica
| origin =
| genre = {{hlist|[[Dancehall]]|[[roots reggae]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/buju-banton-mn0000939187|title = Buju Banton Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website = [[AllMusic]]}}</ref>}}
Line 20:
'''Mark Anthony Myrie''' (born 15 July 1973),<ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, {{ISBN|0-7535-0242-9}}</ref> professionally known by his stage name '''Buju Banton''', is a [[Jamaicans|Jamaican]] [[reggae]] [[dancehall]] musician. He is one of the most significant and well-regarded artists in [[Music of Jamaica|Jamaican music]].<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|last1=MacLeod |first1=Erin |title='Man is a king': controversial star Buju Banton comes home to Jamaica |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/dec/07/buju-banton-return-jamaica-long-walk-to-freedom-tour |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=26 February 2019 |date=7 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="CNN">{{cite web |last1=Karmini |first1=Faith |title=Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton released from US prison |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/09/entertainment/buju-banton-released-from-prison/index.html |website=Cnn.com|access-date=26 February 2019 |date=9 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="MNT">{{cite news|last1=Iannelli |first1=Jerry |title=Reggae star Buju Banton released from prison after Florida drug case |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/reggae-star-buju-banton-released-from-prison-10945723 |newspaper=[[Miami New Times]] |access-date=26 February 2019 |date=7 December 2018}}</ref> Banton has collaborated with many international artists, including those in the [[Hip hop music|hip hop]], [[Latin music|Latin]] and [[punk rock]] genres, as well as the sons of [[Bob Marley]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bujubanton.com/biography/|title=Biography|date=7 May 2018|website=Bujubanton.com|language=en-US|access-date=17 December 2018|archive-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826063804/https://bujubanton.com/biography/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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 becoming the best-selling album in
In 2009, he was arrested on drug-related charges in the United States, his first trial resulting in a hung jury. His 2010 album ''[[Before the Dawn (Buju Banton album)|Before the Dawn]]'' won a [[Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album]] at the [[53rd Annual Grammy Awards]]. In 2011, he was convicted on the aforementioned criminal charge and was imprisoned in the U.S. until December 2018, whereupon he was released, and deported<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://caribbeantoday.com/caribbean-news/local-news/item/21148-buju-banton-to-be-deported-back-to-jamaica-in-2019.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523034522/http://caribbeantoday.com/caribbean-news/local-news/item/21148-buju-banton-to-be-deported-back-to-jamaica-in-2019.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 May 2015|title=Buju Banton To Be Deported Back To Jamaica In 2019|website=Caribbeantoday.com}}</ref> home to
==Biography==
Line 31:
===Early career===
As a youngster,
===1990s===
In 1991,
1992 also saw the unsanctioned re-release of "Boom Bye Bye", a controversial song recorded several years earlier in 1988 when the artist was 15 years old, which resulted in a backlash that threatened to destroy his career.<ref name="Thompson" />
Now on the major [[Mercury Records|Mercury]]/[[PolyGram]] label, Banton released the hard-hitting ''[[Voice of Jamaica]]'' 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 and Tony Gold|Brian & Tony Gold]], and Terry Ganzie, a sharp condemnation of political violence that interpolates [[Little Roy]]'s classic reggae song of the same name; and "Willy, Don't Be Silly", which promotes [[safe sex]] and the use of contraceptives, particularly the condom, profits from which were donated to a charity supporting children with [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]].<ref name="Thompson" /> Banton was invited to meet Jamaican Prime Minister [[P. J. Patterson]], and won several awards that year at the Caribbean Music Awards and the Canadian Music Awards.<ref name="Thompson" />
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 [[Pan Head]] and Dirtsman and singer Mickey Simpson.<ref name="Thompson" /> 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,
''[['Til Shiloh]]'' (1995) was a very influential album, incorporating live instrumentation as well as digital rhythms, and incorporating the sounds of roots reggae 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 "Wanna Be Loved" and "[[Untold Stories (Buju Banton song)|Untold Stories]]". In 1996,
That same year
''[[Inna Heights]]'' (1997) substantially increased Banton's international audience as
===2000s===
Line 72:
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 [[Independence Park (Jamaica)|National Stadium]] in [[Kingston, Jamaica]] in March 2019, the concert attracted over 30.000 people.<ref name="billboard" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jamaicans.com/buju-banton-enters-into-partnership-with-jay-zs-firm-roc-nation/|title=Buju Banton Enters into Partnership with Jay-Z's Firm Roc Nation|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=12 December 2019|website=Jamaicans.com|language=en-US|access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref> During his tour, he continued putting out new music and new singles including ''Bagga Mouth'', ''False Pretense'', and ''Country for Sale''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/buju-banton-roc-nation-steppa-video-915302/|title=Buju Banton Unveils 'Steppa' Video Alongside New Roc Nation Partnership|last=Leight|first=Elias|date=22 November 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref>
In May 2019, Banton released ''Country
Banton announced his partnership with [[Jay-Z]]'s [[Roc Nation]] in November of that year, becoming the second Jamaican reggae artist be represented by the agency, which coincided with the release of his music video ''Steppa''. He also announced that [[Island Records]] will be the distributor of the collaboration's new music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.53569/title.reggae-legend-buju-banton-partners-with-jay-zs-roc-nation|title=Reggae Legend Buju Banton Partners With JAY-Z's Roc Nation|date=23 November 2019|website=HipHopDX|access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2019/11/buju-banton-partners-with-roc-nation-releases-steppa-video|title=Buju Banton Partners With Roc Nation, Releases 'Steppa' Video|date=22 November 2019|website=Vibe|language=en|access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref>
Line 83:
In 2021, Buju began a project releasing [[NFT]]'s. "Banton has teamed up with CrimsonTide Ltd. to create a collection of original [[NFT]] art pieces that will come in digital and autographed canvas pieces".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dancehallmag.com/2021/11/25/news/buju-banton-enters-nft-space-with-pure-love.html|title=Buju Banton Enters NFT Space With "Pure Love"|date=2021-11-25|website=DancehallMag|access-date=2022-11-28|language=en-US}}</ref> Buju has become one of the first Jamaican artist to release a NFT.
In 2022, Buju was featured on [[DJ Khaled]]'s album ''[[God Did]]''. He appeared on the track "These
==Anti-gay lyrics==
{{See also|LGBT rights in Jamaica}}
His song "Boom Bye Bye", which was originally recorded when he was 15 years old and later re-released in 1992 at the age of 19 contains lyrics depicting the murder of [[gay men]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Nelson |first=Leah |url=http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2010/winter/harmonies-of-hate |title=Jamaica's Anti-Gay 'Murder Music' Carries Violent Message | Southern Poverty Law Center |publisher=Splcenter.org |access-date=19 February 2013}}</ref> After the re-release in 1992, Banton issued a public apology after receiving public backlash internationally.<ref name="Thompson"/> In 2009, gay-rights groups appealed to venues around the United States not to host Buju Banton.<ref>GLN MURDER MUSIC NEWS [http://www.gayliberation.net/murdermusic/2009/0830bujubantontour.html "Buju Banton's 2009 U.S.A. tour: Canceled Shows & Current Bookings"]</ref>
In 2007, Banton was allegedly among a number of reggae artists who signed a pledge, called the Reggae Compassionate Act, created by the [[Stop Murder Music]] campaign, to refrain from performing homophobic songs or making homophobic statements.<ref>Topping, Alexandra. [http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2132464,00.html#article_continue "Victory for gay rights campaign as reggae star agrees to ditch homophobic lyrics"], ''The Guardian'', 23 July 2007.</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soulrebels.org/dancehall/w_compassionate_001.htm|title=The Reggae Compassionate Act|website=Soulrebels.org|access-date=16 September 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9251.html "Immigration minister criticised for letting homophobic artist into Canada"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102014318/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9251.html/ |date=2 January 2011 }}, [[Pink News]], 9 October 2008.</ref>
| |||