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.

Murda She Wrote
Buju Banton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lord ah mercy
Bad boys, easy
Tek it easy and calm
(What is going on?) Alright

Well ah murder she wrote
Kick you like di bullet from a .45 Colt
Hired assassins weh inna blood sport

Turn it up a notch and take it to a higher volt (well)
Ah murder she wrote
Kick you like di bullet from a .45 Colt
Hired assassins you inna blood sport
Take it up a notch and take it to a higher

Said you came from selling smack and selling dope
How di Yayo make di empire float
Wit your entire life under microscope
Out of the game is your only hope
South of Philadelphia, Los Angeles streets
Bullshit walk while Don shot speak
Di life of a gangsta is bitter and sweet
Surrounded by snitches and low life creep
Dirty cop who stick on like leech
Soldier pon di corner, you know seh we shit cyaan' weak
They talk, we act, we move and dem stop
Ba-bad to di bone and we love it like that
Dem ah flip and ah flop we shit deh pon lock
Anywhere we go dancehall haffi

Alright, ah murder she wrote
Kick you like di bullet from a .45 Colt
Hired assassins dem nah inna blood sport
Real bad bwoy turn it up anotha, come now
Ah murder she wrote
Hot just like di bullet from a .45 Colt
Hired assassins you inna blood sport
Talk to me bad, hear me now

From juvenile detention to doing real time
Although you never really choose a life of crime
We some how many gone and wah dey lef behind
Criminal intent with criminal mind
Bad boy, bad boy well it is your time
Where you gonna hide now? Your life is on di line
Not a, slap on di wrist and me seh no, not a fine
And anyhow dem catch, betta luck next time

Ah murder she wrote
Kick you like di bullet from a .45 Colt
Hired assassins dem nah inna blood sport
Real bad bwoy turn it up anotha, come now
Ah murder she wrote
Kick you like di bullet from a .45 Colt
Hired assassins dem nah inna blood sport
Real bad bwoy turn it up anotha

Said you came from selling smack and selling dope
How di Yayo make di empire float
Wit di entire life under microscope
Out of the game is your only hope
South of Philadelphia, Los Angeles streets
Bullshit walk while Don shot speaks
Di life of a gangsta is bitter and sweet
Surrounded by snitches and low life creep
Dirty cop who stick on like leech
Precision, every soldier fi know seh we shit cyaan' weak
They talk, we act, we move and dem stop
Bad to di bone and we love it like that
Dem ah flip and ah flop we shit deh pon lock
An anywhere we go dancehall haffi (wild)

Ah murder she wrote
Kick you like di bullet from a .45 Colt
Hired assassins dem nah inna blood sport
Real bad bwoy turn it up anotha, come now
Ah murder she wrote
Kick you like di bullet from a .45 Colt
Hired assassins dem nah inna blood sport
Real bad bwoy turn it up anotha

Said you came from selling smack and selling dope
How di Yayo make di empire float
Wit di entire life under microscope
Out of the game is your only hope

South of Philadelphia, Los Angeles streets
Di life of a gangsta is bitter and sweet

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Buju Banton's "Murda She Wrote" provide a commentary on the life of gangsters and the violence that comes with it. The song starts with the singer urging the "bad boys" to take it easy and remain calm. However, the lyrics quickly delve into the theme of murder and hired assassins. The chorus of the song repeats "Murder she wrote," indicating that someone is responsible for the killings.

Buju then describes the life of a gangster, who starts from selling drugs and then gets immersed in the criminal world. He Touches upon issues such as police brutality, snitches, and backstabbing associates that surround. This passage talks about the darker side of gang life and how it ultimately leads to destruction. The lyrics of "Murda She Wrote" convey the message that violence begets violence and that the life of a criminal is not worth it.

Line by Line Meaning

Lord ah mercy
Expressing surprise, concern, or sympathy

Bad boys, easy
Addressing a group of men who are behaving badly, urging them to calm down and take it easy

Tek it easy and calm
Encouraging the men to take it easy and remain calm

(What is going on?) Alright
Asking what is happening, and acknowledging the situation

Well ah murder she wrote
The subject of the song is murder

Kick you like di bullet from a .45 Colt
The impact of the violence is compared to getting hit by a .45 Colt bullet

Hired assassins weh inna blood sport
Hired killers who are in a bloody, deadly game

Turn it up a notch and take it to a higher volt (well)
Increase the level of violence and take it to a higher level

Said you came from selling smack and selling dope
Referring to someone who used to sell drugs

How di Yayo make di empire float
Asking how the drug known as Yayo allowed the drug empire to thrive

Wit your entire life under microscope
With your entire life being scrutinized by others

Out of the game is your only hope
The only way out is to leave the drug game behind

South of Philadelphia, Los Angeles streets
Referring to the tough areas of Philadelphia and Los Angeles where crime and drugs are prevalent

Bullshit walk while Don shot speak
People talk a lot of nonsense while the real players make moves

Di life of a gangsta is bitter and sweet
The life of a gangster has its ups and downs

Surrounded by snitches and low life creep
Gangsters are constantly surrounded by informants and other unsavory characters

Dirty cop who stick on like leech
Some police officers are corrupt and will stick to gangsters like leeches

Soldier pon di corner, you know seh we shit cyaan' weak
Asserting that gangsters have a strong presence on the streets and cannot be easily defeated

They talk, we act, we move and dem stop
While others talk or hesitate, gangsters take action and continue to move forward

Ba-bad to di bone and we love it like that
Gangsters are wicked to their very core, and they embrace that lifestyle

Dem ah flip and ah flop we shit deh pon lock
Other people are indecisive, while gangsters are always in control and have everything locked down

Anywhere we go dancehall haffi (wild)
Wherever gangsters go, the dancehall is sure to get wild

Hot just like di bullet from a .45 Colt
Again, the violence is compared to the heat of a .45 Colt bullet

Talk to me bad, hear me now
Challenging someone to speak with more confidence and authority

From juvenile detention to doing real time
From being in juvenile detention to serving real prison time as an adult

Although you never really choose a life of crime
Suggesting that circumstances or environment may lead people down a criminal path rather than a conscious decision

We some how many gone and wah dey lef behind
Many gang members are killed or end up behind bars, leaving others behind

Criminal intent with criminal mind
Gangsters have the intention and mindset for criminal activity

Bad boy, bad boy well it is your time
Realizing that one's time as a bad boy will eventually come to an end

Where you gonna hide now? Your life is on di line
Questioning how someone will be able to hide or escape danger when their life is in danger

Not a, slap on di wrist and me seh no, not a fine
There will be no leniency or light punishment

And anyhow dem catch, betta luck next time
If someone is caught, then they will have to try again next time

Precision, every soldier fi know seh we shit cyaan' weak
Highlighting the importance of precision and preparation for gangsters, emphasizing their strength

Bad to di bone and we love it like that
Reiterating that gangsters revel in their badness

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mark Anthony Myrie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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