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buju-banton

Buju Banton’s Legendary Comeback Concert ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ Held in Jamaica

March 17, 2019 by Dj RootsQueen
Concerts
Buju Banton, Jamaica

The reggae star’s return to the stage after eight years in a Florida prison was one of the biggest music events in Jamaica’s history.

Photo by Ivan Berrios

Buju Banton’s Long Walk to Freedom Concert, one of the biggest music events in Jamaica’s history, was held Saturday night at Kingston’s National Stadium, marking the reggae icon’s return to the stage after an eight-year absence. Banton didn’t willingly take a break from performing; he had been incarcerated in federal prison following a conviction on cocaine-trafficking charges.

New York City’s Bobby Konders and Jabba of Massive B Sound and Hot 97 (WQHT FM) set a fitting tone with their selections of 1980s and 1990s dancehall classics. The stadium was packed, nearly reaching its 35,000-person capacity as the 8 p.m. showtime drew closer.

Several of Buju’s collaborators also joined him on stage to celebrate his return. They included Marcia Griffiths, former member of Bob Marley’s I-Threes, whom Banton said he regarded as a mother; Wayne Wonder, with whom Banton performed the 1992 dancehall classic “Bona Fide Love” and one of Banton’s mentors; and singer Beres Hammond. Beres and Buju performed their exuberant ode to dancehall “Can You Play Some More,” and caused the already frenzied crowd to scream even louder when they sang each other’s verses on their 1992 hit, “Who Say?”

Banton had little to say about his incarceration except for counting down, to the second, the amount of time he was locked up, which served as the introduction to “Driver A.” Banton’s 2007 hit about a ganja dealer sending his driver to make a delivery in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, contains a somewhat prescient lyric, as he cautions his driver: “Just remember the damn speed limit cause if you run into the Feds, my friend, that is it.” For the time being, maybe that’s the only direct reference to his incarceration that Banton needs to make.

Buju Banton Has Been Released From Prison

December 7, 2018 by Dj RootsQueen
Music, News
Buju Banton, Dancehall, Reggae

by Annah Carlson

 

Grammy-winning reggae star Buju Banton is one step closer to reuniting with his family in Jamaica. The singer, who spent ten years in federal prison, was released early Friday morning (December 7) and is now being held in ICE custody. Sources close to the reggae star told Urban Islandz that he is expected to be on a flight destined for Jamaica sometime later today or tomorrow.

“He was released from prison early this morning, and he is moving fast to be transported to Jamaica, so expect him on Jamaican soil within hours from now or tomorrow the latest,” our source said while requesting anonymity. 

We’re told that Buju Banton was transported to Florida where his flight will leave from to Jamaica. The “Driver” deejay was sentenced to ten years in prison for a 2011 drug trafficking conviction. He went on to lose several appeals all while maintaining his innocence. 

In 2015, Buju Banton decided that he would stop fighting and serve out his full sentence. The judge dismissed a gun charge that could’ve potentially added more time to his sentence in exchange for him dropping his appeals. 

In a message sent to his fans last month, Buju Banton says his sole focus will be his music and his supporters. “In light of the adversity I have encountered, I feel the need to stress that my only desire going forward is peace and love,” he wrote. “I only want to be associated with my craft. Having survived, I want to share the good news and strength of my music. I just want to continue making music, which I’ve devoted my life to.”

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