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.
Good Body
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It demand the man and a-make them dead set
Good body wey the gal them possess
Inna the latest style, and inna nuff fanciness
Stick like Crazy Glue
Gal a hold him. No you?
A gal can't hold her man she fi get pure boo
Them no ready, them no act, but them waan follow you
Man a-sign up and a-line up to get close to you
Big, bad, and brave, all gargamel too
You hypnotizing, tantalizing, like a jigsaw puzzle
Head up out the house when garga see you
A just
Good body wey the gal them possess
It demand the man and a-make them dead set
Good body wey the gal them possess
Inna the latest style, and inna 'nuff fanciness
Car cash, bottle mash to the way you look sweet
Cannon salute cause your shape exquisite
Well groom hair and chalk white teeth
I never really unclear how nice me see it
You left man breathless and short of speech
Standard wey you set, respect concrete
It's like the Penthouse logo, the world have to see it
Cho! Buju Banton telling the world how she sweet
Good body wey the gal them possess
It demand the man dem and a make them dead
Boody-bye
Good body wey the gal them possess
Inna the latest style, nuff fanciness
I mean, what does it take for me to get next to you
You want me climb a ladder and paint the sky blue?
And if I fall, who will catch me? Baby, let it be you
I love the dimples when you smile, but you cuter when you screw
Me no matter, me no care - you can't wrong fi Buju
Gwaan gal pickney them can't chat to you
What me sing
Good body wey the gal them possess
Inna the latest style, and inna nuff fanciness
Stick like Crazy Glue
Gal a hold him. No you?
A gal can't hold her man she fi get pure boo
Them no ready, them no act, but them waan follow you
If the Father never sent you woman what them woulda do?
Man a-sign up and a-line up, just to come a you
Big, bad, and brave, all gargamel too
You hypnotizing, tantalizing, like a jigsaw puzzle
Gwaan gal pickney them can't chat to you
Good body wey the gal them possess
It demand the man and a-make them dead set
Good body wey the gal them possess
Inna the latest style, love fanciness
Car cash, bottle mash to the way she look sweet
Cannon salute cause your shape exquisite
Well groom hair, chalk white teeth
I never read it inna the gleamer wid me how nice me see it
Man breathless some a them short of speech
Standard you set, your respect concrete
Cause the Penthouse logo, the world have to see it
Gwaan gal pickeny you neat and...
What me sing
Good body wey the gal them possess
It demand the man and a-make them deadset
Good body wey the gal them possess
Inna the latest style, love fanciness
I mean, what does it take for me to get close to you
You want me climb a ladder and paint the sky blue?
And if I fall, who will catch me? Baby, let it be you
I love the dimples when you smile, but you cuter when your screw
Me no know, me no care - you can't wrong fi Buju
Gwaan gal pickney them can't stop unno
I sing
Good body wey the gal them possess
It demand the man and a-make them dead
Good body wey the gal them possess
Inna the latest style, love fanciness
Jungle gal them, jump up as unno could
Lima gal them, jump shackout like unno shoud
Uptown girl them, buju say unno look good
[?]
Good body wey the gal them possess
I sing... [fade]
The lyrics of Buju Banton's song "Good Body" focus on praising the physical beauty of women and pointing out how it has significant power over men. Banton talks about how a good body demands the man's attention and can make him forget everything else. He compares it to Crazy Glue, which means that it's almost impossible for men to get away from it once they get drawn in. Banton describes how good bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and how they are always in the latest style and full of fanciness. He talks about how they drive men crazy and how they are always the centre of attention wherever they go. Banton also mentions how women with good bodies have a lot of power over other women, who try to follow their lead and emulate them.
Banton's song is also about the different things that women do to make themselves look good or appealing to men. He mentions how women with good bodies always have their hair well-groomed, chalk-white teeth, and an overall put-together appearance. He talks about how women with good bodies drive men to the point of breathlessness and leave them short of speech. Buju Banton also talks about his desire to get close to women with good bodies and how he would do anything to be with them, climb a ladder or paint the sky blue.
Overall, Buju Banton's song "Good Body" is an ode to physical beauty and how it can affect people. It's an insight into how men perceive women and their bodies, and how most women strive to attain the perfect body shape or size.
Line by Line Meaning
Good body wey the gal them possess
Buju Banton is talking about the good physique or body of the girls.
It demand the man and a-make them dead set
The men are crazy about the girls with good bodies that it makes them lose control and focus completely.
Inna the latest style, and inna nuff fanciness
The girls have a good physique and they are stylish and fashionable.
Stick like Crazy Glue
The men get completely attracted to the girls with good bodies and stay with them.
Gal a hold him. No you?
The girls with good bodies always have men around them.
A gal can't hold her man she fi get pure boo
A woman cannot keep her man if she doesn't have a good physique and looks.
Them no ready, them no act, but them waan follow you
Women who do not have good bodies still want to follow the girls who do have good bodies.
If the Father never sent you woman what them woulda do?
If these women were not blessed with good bodies, what would they do to attract men?
Man a-sign up and a-line up to get close to you
Men are eager and waiting to get the attention of the girls with good bodies and good looks.
Big, bad, and brave, all gargamel too
Even Buju Banton, who is big and bad, gets infatuated by the girls with good bodies.
You hypnotizing, tantalizing, like a jigsaw puzzle
The girls with good bodies are hypnotizing and tantalizing to look at, like a jigsaw puzzle put together beautifully.
Head up out the house when garga see you
Buju can't stop himself from looking at the girls with good bodies and feel the urge to leave the house when he sees them.
Car cash, bottle mash to the way you look sweet
The girls with good bodies and good looks are expensive to maintain and similar to cars that require cash and bottles to keep-looking sweet.
Cannon salute cause your shape exquisite
The girls with good bodies and good looks are so stunning that they deserve a cannon salute in appreciation and admiration.
Well groom hair and chalk white teeth
The girls with good bodies and looks also have to take proper care of their hair and teeth to maintain their stunning looks.
I never really unclear how nice me see it
Buju makes it clear that he appreciates the girls with good bodies and looks.
You left man breathless and short of speech
The girls with good bodies and good looks take men's breath away, leaving them speechless.
Standard wey you set, respect concrete
The girls with good bodies and good looks set high standards and gain respect easily.
It's like the Penthouse logo, the world has to see it
The girls with good bodies and good looks are so stunning and attractive that they are comparable to the Penthouse logo that needs to be advertised to the world.
Cho! Buju Banton telling the world how she sweet
Buju is telling the world about how sweet and attractive the girls with good bodies look.
You want me climb a ladder and paint the sky blue?
Buju emphasizes that getting close to the girls with good bodies is difficult, so he asks if he has to climb a ladder and paint the sky blue to grab their attention.
And if I fall, who will catch me? Baby, let it be you
Buju suggests that the girl with the good body should be there to catch him if a ladder role-play goes wrong or he falls for her.
I love the dimples when you smile, but you cuter when you screw
Buju thinks the girl with the good body is cute and looks more attractive during sexual activities and when she squirms while experiencing pleasure.
Me no matter, me no care - you can't wrong fi Buju
Buju states it doesn't matter if the girl doesn't pay attention to him, as he still appreciates and admires the girls with good bodies.
Gwaan gal pickney them can't chat to you
The other girls cannot compete with the girls that have good bodies.
Jungle gal them, jump up as unno could
Buju congratulates the girls in the jungle for their dancing abilities and their good bodies.
Contributed by Gianna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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?