As a youngster, Buju would often watch his favourite artists perform at outdoor shows and local dancehalls. At the tender age of 13 he picked up the microphone for himself and began toasting under the monicker of "Gargamel". His first single, "The Ruler" was released not long afterwards in 1987 under the production of Robert French at Penthouse Studios.
In 1991, Buju joined Donovan Germain's Penthouse Label and began a fruitful partnership with producer Dave Kelly. Buju is one of the most popular musicians in Jamaican history, having burst onto the charts there suddenly in 1992, with "Bogle" and "Love Me Browning/Love Black Woman", both massive hits in Jamaica. Controversy erupted over Love Me Browning which spoke of Banton's preference for light-skinned women: "Mi love mi car mi love mi house mi love mi money and ting, but most of all mi love mi browning." Some accused Banton of promoting a colonialist attitude and denigrating the beauty of black women. In response, he released "Black Woman" which spoke of his love for dark-skinned beauties: "Stop cry, fi all black woman, respect all the gyals with dark complexion." 1992 was an explosive year for Buju as he broke the great Bob Marley's record for the greatest number of number one singles in a year. Beginning with "Man fi Dead", Buju's gruff voice dominated the Jamaican airwaves for the duration of the year. Banton's debut album, Mr. Mention, includes his greatest hits from that year.
1992 was also the year in which the controversy over Buju's homophobic "Boom Bye Bye" exploded. The media in Great Britain picked up on Buju's less than admirable promotion of violence against homosexuals. Myrie, who had recently signed with Mercury records, refused to back down from his stance against homosexuals, claiming his religious beliefs prevented him from accepting homosexuality. Banton downplayed the violent content of his song, claiming that it was metaphorical. Gay Rights groups campaigned against Buju as well as Shabba Ranks who, when asked about the controversy on the British show The Word, stated, "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." Shabba later apologized, but Buju refused to back down which drew the ire of various homosexual advocacy groups who continue to campaign against him.
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 criticized those Jamaicans who went abroad but never sent money home, a remix of Little Roy's "Tribal War", a sharp condemnation of political violence, and "Willy, Don't Be Silly" which promoted condom use. The conscious spin of this disc did little to stop the attacks of gay rights groups who felt that his continued performance of "Boom Bye Bye" was a slap in their faces. Some dancehall fans felt that Banton could have exploded onto the American scene if his homophobic song hadn't held him back. Nevertheless, Buju was adopted by many new fans who appreciated his gravelly vocals and cared little about his homophobia.
Til Shiloh (1995) was a very influential album, using a studio band instead of synthesized music, and marking a slight shift away from dancehall towards roots reggae for Banton. Buju turned Rasta and his new album reflected his new beliefs. Til Shiloh is one of the greatest dancehall albums of all time and successfully blended conscious lyrics with a hard-hitting dancehall vibe. The album included a single called "Murderer" which condemned the violence in Jamaican dancehall music, inspired by the murders of dancehall musicians Panhead and Dirtsman. The song inspired several clubs to stop playing songs with excessively violent subject matter. This conscious album had a large impact on dancehall music and showed the hunger the dancehall massive had for conscious lyrics. Dancehall music did not move away from slack and violent lyrics, but the album did pave the way for a greater spirituality within the music.
Inna Heights (1997) substantially increased Banton's international audience as Buju explored his singing ability and recorded a number of roots-tinged tracks. Banton covered The Silvertones' "Destiny" and recorded songs with such artists as Beres Hammond and the legendary Toots Hibbert. The album was well-received but had distribution problems. Also, some fans were disappointed, having hoped for another ground-breaking album like "Til Shiloh." Still, Buju's experimentation and soaring vocals impressed many fans and this album remains a highly regarded work.
In 1998, Buju met the punk band Rancid and recorded two tracks with them: "Misty Days" and "Life Won't Wait." The latter became the title track of Rancid's 1999 album, Life Won't Wait. Subsequently, Buju signed with Rancid's eclectic Anti, a subsidiary of Epitaph and released Unchained Spirit in 2000.
In March 2003 he released Friends for Life, which featured more sharply political songs, including "Mr. Nine", an anti-gun song that further verified his status as one of reggae's most anti-confrontational artists.
Banton's 2006 album Too Bad got him nominated for a second Grammy but despite the album's brilliance and artistic excellence "Too Bad" did not garner the award. "Too Bad" brings us back to the Buju of the nineties with his rough phenomenal voice backed by hypnotic beats and conscious lyrics that seem to stay on repeat in your head. "Too Bad" is a complete listen from start to finish and is an extra success because the Gargamel executive produced the album on his own label.
On April 21, 2009, Buju released the often delayed album Rasta Got Soul. This is Banton's ninth album and features the hit single Magic City. This release sees Buju returning to roots and culture reggae. The album received a Grammy nomination in the Best Reggae Album category.
As of December 2009, Buju allegedly attempted to buy cocaine from an undercover officer in Miami and faces up to life in prison if convicted. The trial of Banton began on September 20, 2010 in Tampa, Florida.
Di Woman Dem Phat
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leggo mi hand move yah
Leggo mi hand leave yah
Leggo mi hand,
Hear dis I seh
Leggo mi hand nuh hold mi back
Yuh nuh seh how di woman dem phat
Gargamel a gonna mek an attack
Leggo mi hand move nuh hold mi back
Yuh nuh see how di woman dem phat
Leggo mi try nuh hold mi back
Gargamel a gonna mek an attack
Hold all di intrigue, a blood man a bleed
How she walk when she roll have mi weak inna mi knees
Fay is a well ripe apple every man waan fi squeeze
Caw she flawless juss like di breeze
Gal yuh coulda nevah be a woman who a use dem bleach
High hair all pon pulpit it reach
Nuff name a call who a run dung Denise
But mi nah tek no advice
I know seh she nice, seven coulda roll pon di dice
Bomb she bomb she bomb a my choice
Jump up up up yuh hear di golden voice,
Come buju banton mi seh one song tell dem
Leggo mi hand nuh hold mi back
Yuh nuh seh how di woman dem phat
Leggo mi hand try nuh hold mi back
Gargamel a gonna mek an attack
Leggo mi hand move nuh hold mi back
Yuh nuh see how di woman dem phat
Leggo mi try nuh hold mi back
Gargamel a gonna mek an attack
She mi send call, she nevah come
A move like she waan man fi run har dung
Fi dis ocean a flow she waan more dan welcome
Sweet yuh so much yuh woulda waan touch di sun
There a lot a woman out deh weh a gi dem man bun
Carmen seh she nuh response suh time a run
Half a man is better dan none
Tell dem
Leggo mi hand nuh hold mi back
Yuh nuh seh how di woman dem phat
Leggo mi hand try nuh hold mi back
Gargamel a gonna mek an attack
Leggo mi hand move nuh hold mi back
Yuh nuh see how di woman dem phat
Leggo mi try nuh hold mi back
Gargamel a gonna mek an attack
Nuff would say lust, I woulda say phat
How di woman dem stay I can't but chat
Nah leff di woman guh watch nuh damn man head back
Tek in di woman dem when di dancehall pack
Well dress woman and di clothes haffi bash
Any miss hand friends dem both haffi watch
Den listen buju banton caw wi caan mis match
Anyway ketch dat, anyway watch dat
Some a dem a chat dis some a dem chat dat
Some a dem a watch dis some love watch watch
Some a dem a chat dis through dem love chat chat
Leggo mi hand nuh hold mi back
Yuh nuh seh how di woman dem phat
Leggo mi hand try nuh hold mi back
Gargamel a gonna mek an attack
Leggo mi hand move nuh hold mi back
Yuh nuh see how di woman dem phat
Leggo mi try nuh hold mi back
Gargamel a gonna mek an attack
Hold all di intrigue, a blood man a bleed
How she walk when she roll have mi weak inna mi knees
Fay is a well ripe apple every man waan fi squeeze
Caw she flawless juss like di breeze
Gal yuh coulda nevah be a woman who a use dem bleach
High hair all pon pulpit it reach
Nuff name a call who a run dung Denise
But mi nah tek no advice
I know seh she nice, seven coulda roll pon di dice
Bomb she bomb she bomb a my choice
Jump up up up yuh hear di golden voice,
Come buju banton mi seh one song tell dem
In Buju Banton's song "Di Woman Dem Phat," the artist expresses his admiration for women who are confidently comfortable with their bodies. The lyrics speak to the beauty and sex appeal of a curvy and voluptuous figure, championing these traits as desirable and empowering. Buju encourages the listener to let go of their inhibitions and embrace their attraction to these types of women, promoting a sense of liberation and acceptance of differing body types.
Throughout the song, Buju speaks highly of the women who possess these desirable traits, going as far as to call them flawless and likening them to a refreshing breeze. He criticizes those who use skin-bleaching products and those who shame women for their weight or shape, stating that they are not worth listening to. Buju also dismisses the notions of lust, emphasizing that his attraction to these women stems from appreciation rather than objectification.
Overall, the song promotes self-love, body positivity, and the rejection of societal beauty standards.
Line by Line Meaning
Leggo mi hand move yah
Let go of my hand and move from here
Leggo mi hand leave yah
Let go of my hand and leave here
Leggo mi hand,
Let go of my hand
Hear dis I seh
Listen to what I am saying
Leggo mi hand nuh hold mi back
Let go of my hand, don't hold me back
Yuh nuh seh how di woman dem phat
Don't you see how attractive the women are?
Leggo mi hand try nuh hold mi back
Let go of my hand, try not to hold me back
Gargamel a gonna mek an attack
Buju Banton is going to attack
Leggo mi hand move nuh hold mi back
Let go of my hand, move freely without holding me back
Yuh nuh see how di woman dem phat
Don't you see how attractive the women are?
Leggo mi try nuh hold mi back
Let go of my hand, try not to hold me back
Hold all di intrigue, a blood man a bleed
Pay attention, a person is bleeding
How she walk when she roll have mi weak inna mi knees
Her walk when she dances makes me weak in the knees
Fay is a well ripe apple every man waan fi squeeze
Fay is an attractive woman every man wants to be with
Caw she flawless juss like di breeze
Because she is perfect like the breeze
Gal yuh coulda nevah be a woman who a use dem bleach
You could never be a woman who uses bleach
High hair all pon pulpit it reach
Her hair is high like a pulpit
Nuff name a call who a run dung Denise
Lots of people are talking about those who run after Denise
But mi nah tek no advice
But I won't take any advice
I know seh she nice, seven coulda roll pon di dice
I know she's attractive, I would bet on it
Bomb she bomb she bomb a my choice
She's my top choice
Jump up up up yuh hear di golden voice
Get excited and listen to the golden voice
Come buju banton mi seh one song tell dem
Come on, Buju Banton is going to sing one song to tell them
She mi send call, she nevah come
I called her, but she didn't come
A move like she waan man fi run har dung
She acts like she wants a man to chase her
Fi dis ocean a flow she waan more dan welcome
She wants more than she is welcome to have
Sweet yuh so much yuh woulda waan touch di sun
You're so sweet, you would want to touch the sun
There a lot a woman out deh weh a gi dem man bun
There are lots of women out there giving their men trouble
Carmen seh she nuh response suh time a run
Carmen says she won't respond, so time is running out
Half a man is better dan none
Having half a man is better than having no man at all
Nuff would say lust, I woulda say phat
Many would say it's lust, but I would say they're attractive (phat)
How di woman dem stay I can't but chat
I can't help but talk about how attractive the women are
Nah leff di woman guh watch nuh damn man head back
I'm not going to let the women watch some foolish man leave
Tek in di woman dem when di dancehall pack
Take in the women when the dancehall is full
Well dress woman and di clothes haffi bash
Well-dressed women and their clothes must stand out
Any miss hand friends dem both haffi watch
Her friends with miss-matched hands have to watch too
Den listen buju banton caw wi caan mis match
Listen to Buju Banton's music because we are a perfect match
Anyway ketch dat, anyway watch dat
Catch that however you can, watch it however you want
Some a dem a chat dis some a dem chat dat
Some of them are talking about this, some of them are talking about that
Some a dem a watch dis some love watch watch
Some of them are watching this, some love to just watch
Some a dem a chat dis through dem love chat chat
Some of them are talking about this because they love to gossip
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Mark Anthony Myrie, Anthony St. Aubin Kelly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yuran Ricardo
on Fake Smile
with your cynical green
you leave no action
If there’s a choking problem she a reach with everyone
why acting dumb. second verse:
with your cynical green
you leave no action
If you have a choking problems she a reach with everyone
why acting dumb
Kern Rodney
on Fake Smile
If there's ah joke in progress share it with everyone, why acting dumb?