Buju Banton (born Mark Myrie 1973) is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and regg… Read Full Bio ↴Buju Banton (born Mark Myrie 1973) is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae singer. He was born in a slum near Kingston, Jamaica called Salt Lane. "Buju" is a nickname which is of Breadfruit. The name is ironic in light of Mark Myrie's slim frame and large head, but it is, nevertheless, the nickname his mother gave him as a child. "Banton" is a Jamaican word referring to someone with a superior attitude and a gift with speech, but it was also the name of a local artist Burro Banton that Buju admired as a child. It was Burro's rough gravelly vocals that Buju emulated and ultimately made his own. Buju's mother was a higgler, or street vendor while his father worked as a labourer at a tile factory. He was one of fifteen children born into a family which was directly descended from the Maroons, a group of escaped slaves who proudly fought off the British colonialists.
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.
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.
Look How You Sweet
Buju Banton Lyrics
All di gal ah eva look cute, big up unuh chest caah Buju Banton cry fi unno
Excess amount a champagne
Don′t let it go in vain
Hear wah me tell the girl dem say
All girls
Look how you sweet
Dem nuh know a cutie face a dweet
All dem a walk and knockin' up dem feet
Look how you cute, hair style a shock out nuh brute
Dress to impress and a mad the likkle yute
Look how you nice, every man want a small slice
Soft like a sponge nuh tuff like bone dice
Gyal a wah dem grudge me fah
Mek dem well wah fi fight
Dem mussi think say me get me pretty looks over night
A nuh yute tell dem fi pregnant and nuh feel dem body right
A nuh you mek dem sleep pon verandah last night
Mek dem know yuh man a come pon the five o′clock flight
Yuh nuh owe no water, rent and dem cyan cut off the light
When ya and the man a par it a bun dem eye sight
Look how you sweet
Mek dem nuh know a cutie face a dweet
All dem a walk and knockin' up dem feet
Look how you cute, hair style a shock out nuh brute
Dress to impress and a mad the likkle yute
Look how you nice, every man want a small slice
Soft like a sponge nuh tuff like bone dice
When good looks a gi weh
Woman you deh a front
Get you manicure and facial every month
Gal you look hot inna you color-color frak
Deh pon the chart dem cya take you off back
Jump and shock out cuh me know say me hot
A nuh lie me a tell it's a natural fact
Gyal you sweet
Dem nuh know a cutie face a dweet
All dem a walk and skin up dem teet
Look how you cute, gyal you a mad di likkle yute
Fat like a wah, yuh hair style bad nuh brute
Buju pon the mic and me a tell dem the truth
Love fi see di girl dem when dem pretty like fruit
Don′t want a gyal weh fava pon coote
Jump and shock out cuh you know say a di truth
Yuh baby father, him a mine
Him likkle yute
Him nuh stop trash him out inna him cut-up jeans suit
Look how you sweet
Mek dem nuh know a cutie face a dweet
All dem a walk and knockin′ up dem feet
Gyal you cute, hair style nuh mandem nuh brute
Dress to impress and a mad di likkle yute
Look how you nice, every man want a small slice
Soft like a sponge nuh tuff like bone dice
Gal a wah dem grudge me fah
Mek dem well wah fi fight
Dem mussi think say me get me pretty looks over night
A nuh yute tell dem fi pregnant and nuh feel dem body right
A nuh you mek dem sleep pon verandah last night
Mek dem know yuh man a come pon the five o'clock flight
Yuh nuh owe no water, rent and dem cyan cut off the light
Jump and shock inna di dancehall tonight
When you and you man a model it a bun dem eye sight
Look how you sweet
Mek dem nuh know a cutie face a dweet
All dem a walk and knockin′ up dem feet
Gyal you cute, hair style a mad dem nuh brute
Dress to impress and a mad the likkle yute
Look how you nice, every man want a small slice
Soft like a sponge nuh tuff like bone dice
Look how you fresh, man a rush you color-color dress
Some gal a say you dress to impress
But yuh nuh scare
Jump and shock out inna di air
Cuh di clothes weh you wear is expensive and dare
True when good looks a gi weh woman you deh a front
Get you manicure and facial every month
Gyal you look hot inna you color-color frak
Deh pon the chart dem cyan take you off back
Jump and shock out you nuh cater fi dat
Mek dem stay deh and mek dem gwan chat
Cuh dem only can chat anytime you tun yuh back
Look how you sweet
Dem nuh know a cutie face a dweet
All dem a walk and knockin' up dem feet
Look how you cute
Gyal you a mad di likkle yute
Hair style pretty it a tek life nuh brute
I nuh no lie mi a tell woman a di truth
Gyal you look good your skin smooth like a fruit
Baby fadda in mi mind him likkle yute
Him nuh stop bushy mouth inna cut up, cut up suit
Jump and shack out cuh you know seh a di truth
Gyal you sweet, dem nuh know how cute face a dweet
All dem a walk and knockin′ up dem feet...
Excess amount a champagne
Don′t let it go in vain
Hear wah me tell the girl dem say
All girls
Look how you sweet
Dem nuh know a cutie face a dweet
All dem a walk and knockin' up dem feet
Look how you cute, hair style a shock out nuh brute
Look how you nice, every man want a small slice
Soft like a sponge nuh tuff like bone dice
Gyal a wah dem grudge me fah
Mek dem well wah fi fight
Dem mussi think say me get me pretty looks over night
A nuh yute tell dem fi pregnant and nuh feel dem body right
A nuh you mek dem sleep pon verandah last night
Mek dem know yuh man a come pon the five o′clock flight
Yuh nuh owe no water, rent and dem cyan cut off the light
When ya and the man a par it a bun dem eye sight
Look how you sweet
Mek dem nuh know a cutie face a dweet
All dem a walk and knockin' up dem feet
Look how you cute, hair style a shock out nuh brute
Dress to impress and a mad the likkle yute
Look how you nice, every man want a small slice
Soft like a sponge nuh tuff like bone dice
When good looks a gi weh
Woman you deh a front
Get you manicure and facial every month
Gal you look hot inna you color-color frak
Deh pon the chart dem cya take you off back
Jump and shock out cuh me know say me hot
A nuh lie me a tell it's a natural fact
Gyal you sweet
Dem nuh know a cutie face a dweet
All dem a walk and skin up dem teet
Look how you cute, gyal you a mad di likkle yute
Fat like a wah, yuh hair style bad nuh brute
Buju pon the mic and me a tell dem the truth
Love fi see di girl dem when dem pretty like fruit
Don′t want a gyal weh fava pon coote
Jump and shock out cuh you know say a di truth
Yuh baby father, him a mine
Him likkle yute
Him nuh stop trash him out inna him cut-up jeans suit
Look how you sweet
Mek dem nuh know a cutie face a dweet
All dem a walk and knockin′ up dem feet
Gyal you cute, hair style nuh mandem nuh brute
Dress to impress and a mad di likkle yute
Look how you nice, every man want a small slice
Soft like a sponge nuh tuff like bone dice
Gal a wah dem grudge me fah
Mek dem well wah fi fight
Dem mussi think say me get me pretty looks over night
A nuh yute tell dem fi pregnant and nuh feel dem body right
A nuh you mek dem sleep pon verandah last night
Mek dem know yuh man a come pon the five o'clock flight
Yuh nuh owe no water, rent and dem cyan cut off the light
Jump and shock inna di dancehall tonight
When you and you man a model it a bun dem eye sight
Look how you sweet
Mek dem nuh know a cutie face a dweet
All dem a walk and knockin′ up dem feet
Gyal you cute, hair style a mad dem nuh brute
Dress to impress and a mad the likkle yute
Look how you nice, every man want a small slice
Soft like a sponge nuh tuff like bone dice
Look how you fresh, man a rush you color-color dress
Some gal a say you dress to impress
But yuh nuh scare
Jump and shock out inna di air
Cuh di clothes weh you wear is expensive and dare
True when good looks a gi weh woman you deh a front
Get you manicure and facial every month
Gyal you look hot inna you color-color frak
Deh pon the chart dem cyan take you off back
Jump and shock out you nuh cater fi dat
Mek dem stay deh and mek dem gwan chat
Cuh dem only can chat anytime you tun yuh back
Look how you sweet
Dem nuh know a cutie face a dweet
All dem a walk and knockin' up dem feet
Look how you cute
Gyal you a mad di likkle yute
Hair style pretty it a tek life nuh brute
I nuh no lie mi a tell woman a di truth
Gyal you look good your skin smooth like a fruit
Baby fadda in mi mind him likkle yute
Him nuh stop bushy mouth inna cut up, cut up suit
Jump and shack out cuh you know seh a di truth
Gyal you sweet, dem nuh know how cute face a dweet
All dem a walk and knockin′ up dem feet...
Writer(s): Dave Kelly, Mark Anthony Myrie
Contributed by Adrian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
@freddysparrow359
Buju "Dancehall prime minister" Banton.
@maise0821
Still jamming to this in 2019!! The rebirth of Gargamel...maximum love and respect!!
@krisr3m
rayon with chifon -dancehall clothing of the 90's
@GUEST-em7zd
Look oh yuh sweet…….❤❤❤❤❤
@bosmanragga51
These are some tracks that were overlooked and we enjoy them in private
@leandramohammed1988
❤❤❤😊😊😊buju in town weekend😊😊😊
@lesterforde
Buju big respect is me gangsta sweet from gt
@carlenelawrence9478
2020 up buju
@ashleybowen5891
Big up buju
@saritasara8362
that was the 90years my friend !