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.
Gi Dem A Page
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I just want to look at your face
With the stars in the night
There are times
When I just want to feel your embrace
In the cold of the night
I just can′t believe that you are mine now
I never thought I would be right for you
I just can't compare you with
Anything in this world
You′re all I need to be with forevermore
All those years I've longed to hold you in my arms
I've been dreaming of you
Every night,
I′ve been watching all the stars that fall down
Wishing you would be mine
I just can′t believe that you were mine now
You were just a dream that I once knew
I never thought I would be right for you
I just can't compare you with
Anything in this world
You′re all I need to be with forevermore
Time and again
There are these changes that we cannot end
Sure a star that keeps going on and on
My love for you will be forevermore
Wishing you would be mine
I just can't believe that you were mine now
You were just a dream that I once knew
I never thought I would be right for you
I just can′t compare you with
Anything in this world
As endless as forever
Our love will stay together
You're all I need to be with forever more
(As endless as forever
Our love will stay together)
You′re all I need
To be with forevermore
The lyrics to Buju Banton's "Gi Dem A Page" speak to the intense love and deep connection the singer feels towards his partner. He expresses his desire to simply look at their face and feel their embrace, even in the coldest of nights. The first verse speaks to the disbelief that he once dreamed of this person, never believing that he could be right for them. However, he now understands that they are all he needs to be with forevermore.
The second verse speaks to the years that he has longed for this person and has dreamt of being with them every night. He looks to the stars, wishing that they would be his, and now that they are together, he still can't believe it. Despite any changes that may come in life, he knows that his love for this person will be endless and forevermore.
Overall, the lyrics speak to the depth of the singer's love and the joy that comes with finding the person who completes them. The song is a beautiful tribute to the power of love, and the importance of cherishing those who make our lives better.
Line by Line Meaning
There are times
Occasionally
When I just want to look at your face
When all I want is to see you
With the stars in the night
In the darkness with the stars shining above
There are times
Occasionally
When I just want to feel your embrace
When all I want is to hold you
In the cold of the night
In the chilly evening hours
I just can′t believe that you are mine now
I can't believe you belong to me now
You were just a dream that I once knew
You were once only a dream to me
I never thought I would be right for you
I never believed I was the one for you
I just can't compare you with Anything in this world
There is nothing else in this world like you
You′re all I need to be with forevermore
You're everything I need to be with forever
All those years I've longed to hold you in my arms
For years, I've yearned to embrace you
I've been dreaming of you Every night,
I've dreamt of you every night
I′ve been watching all the stars that fall down
I've observed the falling stars
Wishing you would be mine
Hoping you'd be my own
Time and again There are these changes that we cannot end
Changes keep happening that we can't stop
Sure a star that keeps going on and on
Like a never-ending star in the sky
My love for you will be forevermore
My love for you will last forever
As endless as forever Our love will stay together
Our love will endure forever
You're all I need to be with forever more
You're everything I need to be with forever
Writer(s): Lynford Marshall, Sly Dunbar, Mark Anthony Myrie, Collin W. York
Contributed by Taylor F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alfonso CR
A un mes de/diciembre y esto va sonar duroooooooo 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🇯🇲
Craig Wallace
La vieja escuela es la vieja escuela respeten 🆙🆙🆙🆙
earth earth
Mad tune.
Lee Roy
All now when i listen this buju flow is ridicule gr8
earth earth
Sick tune.
reppin trini
Tuneeeee🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Chris Romans
Real Gargamel
Jason Duncan
When man a roll inna foreign pon 225th inno
Drop top Benz and de rims dem crisp inno🔥🔥🔥🔥
Sebas Marin
botando el chante en el 2020...!!!
Alfonso CR
Madddddd costa ricaaaaaaa 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥