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.
Negus
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the Root of David, he′s Amlak
Hail Ishmael Amlak
From the Root of the great man Solomon, he's Rasta
IGZIABEHER!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST!
(Lord of lords) Jah!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST!
(Lord of lords) Jah!
When I saw more than twenty thousand chariots
And their leader, yes, he was the great Tekla Haimanot
And they were going, Lord
Singing such a sweet song
I could not overstand
But I heard the voice of the clergy man
When he said
IGZIABEHER!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST!
(Lord of lords) Jah!
IGZIABEHER!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST!
(Lord of lords) Yeah!
But it was written in the faith and he goes
Telling the bear and eagles
False unto man and man
And such and such and such
Saying We should live upright
Oh, should not fight and fuss
Deliveror must be clean
And thus and thus and thus
O Buju Banton, lip of brass
Then I saw the man with the golden cross
As he went down into the water
Behold the sands he trod
I could not repeat afterwards
He said
IGZIABEHER!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST!
(Lord of lords) Ja!
IGZIABEHER! Yah!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST!
(Lord of lords) Yeah!
Well, they′re all dressed in white
Woman and man on every side
Children all were there
Feeling joy in side
And then the champions reign
They prayed, I sang
In their mouths they tipped a little wine and dread
And they remember
Every word the Great One said
From priest to prophet
Abraham right down to Zed
All my people, you should be there to behold
The sight I have seen
Oh it's gonna run could never to-o-o-o
Well, why, why, wo-o-o-o-o
IGZIABEHER!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST!
(Lord of lords) Jah!
IGZIABEHER!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST!
(Lord of lords) Jah!
In dreams I saw
More than twenty thousand chariots
And their leader, yeah, was the great Tekla Haimanot
Trod they were going
Chanting such a sweet song
I could not overstand
But I heard the voice of the clergy man
When he said
IGZIABEHER!
Behold, He is the beginning and the end
The Alpha and Omega
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST!
Behold, He come into life in brimstone and fire
(Lord of lords) Jah!
Igziabeher!...
The song Negus by Buju Banton pays tribute to the divine rulership of the Ethiopian emperors, who were regarded as the embodiment of the Lion of Judah and the Negus Nagast (King of Kings). The lyrics appear to describe a mystical vision in which Buju Banton saw a procession of chariots led by the great Tekla Haimanot, a renowned Ethiopian saint and church leader. The imagery evokes the ancient glory of Ethiopia and the prophetic role it played in the history of human civilization.
The lyrics are infused with Rastafarian and Ethiopian Orthodox Christian motifs, such as the honorific titles of Ishmael, Root of David, Amlak, and Solomon, which signify the divine ancestry of the Ethiopian monarchs. The repeated refrain of "IGZIABEHER! NEGUS NAGAST! Jah!" is a powerful invocation of the divine presence and a proclamation of faith in the redemptive power of the Almighty. The song also emphasizes the importance of living a righteous life and the need for spiritual purification through baptism.
Line by Line Meaning
Hail Ishmael Wadada
Salute to Ishmael Wadada
From the Root of David, he′s Amlak
Ishmael Wadada is from the lineage of David, hence he's called Amlak
Hail Ishmael Amlak
Greetings to Ishmael Amlak
From the Root of the great man Solomon, he's Rasta
Ishmael Amlak also comes from the ancestry of the renowned King Solomon, thus he's considered Rasta
IGZIABEHER!
Praise to the Almighty!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST!
He is the ruler of all rulers, the king of Ethiopia!
(Lord of lords) Jah!
He is the master of all lords, Jah!
When I saw more than twenty thousand chariots
I had a dream where I saw an army of twenty thousand chariots
And their leader, yes, he was the great Tekla Haimanot
The leader of these chariots was none other than the great Tekla Haimanot
And they were going, Lord
They moved on their way, oh Lord
Singing such a sweet song
They were chanting a lovely tune
I could not overstand
I couldn't comprehend
But I heard the voice of the clergy man
However, I could hear the voice of the priest
But it was written in the faith and he goes
What the priest was saying was recorded in scripture
Telling the bear and eagles
He was speaking to the animals
False unto man and man
He warned about being deceitful to others
Saying We should live upright
He advised that we should live with honesty and integrity
Oh, should not fight and fuss
There should be no quarrels or arguments
Deliveror must be clean
One should be pure in delivering the message
O Buju Banton, lip of brass
Buju Banton with audacious speech
Then I saw the man with the golden cross
Next, I saw a man carrying a golden cross
As he went down into the water
He immersed himself in the water
Behold the sands he trod
He walked on the sand
I could not repeat afterwards
What he said next, I couldn't say
IGZIABEHER!
Hail to the Almighty!
Yah!
Yes!
Well, they're all dressed in white
Everyone was dressed in white
Woman and man on every side
Men and women were all around
Children all were there
Kids were present too
Feeling joy in side
Everyone was filled with happiness
And then the champions reign
Then came the sovereignty of the champions
They prayed, I sang
They prayed, while I sang
In their mouths they tipped a little wine and dread
They sipped a little wine with locks on their head
And they remember
They recalled
Every word the Great One said
Every word said by the Almighty
From priest to prophet
From leader to seer
Abraham right down to Zed
From Abraham to Zedekiah
All my people, you should be there to behold
All of my people, you should have witnessed it
The sight I have seen
The scene I witnessed was incredible
Oh it's gonna run could never to-o-o-o
It's a memory that'll forever last
Well, why, why, wo-o-o-o-o
Why, why, oh
In dreams I saw
In my dream I saw
More than twenty thousand chariots
An army of over twenty thousand chariots
And their leader, yeah, was the great Tekla Haimanot
The commander-in-chief was the great Tekla Haimanot
Trod they were going
They marched ahead
Chanting such a sweet song
Singing a beautiful melody
I could not overstand
I couldn't comprehend
Behold, He is the beginning and the end
Indeed, He is the start and finish
The Alpha and Omega
The first and last
Behold, He come into life in brimstone and fire
He was born into the world with drama and power
Igziabeher!
Praise to the Almighty!
Writer(s): Una Morgan, Peter Morgan, Roy Morgan, Nakhamyah Morgan, Memmalatel Morgan, M. Myrie
Contributed by Violet H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cecilia Moran
Hail Ishmael Wadada From the Root of David, he's Amlak Hail Ishmael Amlak From the Root of the great man Solomon, he's Rasta IGZIABEHER! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Jah!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST!
IGZIABEHER!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Jah! When I saw more than twenty thousand chariots And their leader, yes, he was the great Tekla Haimanot And they were going, Lord Singing such a sweet song I could not overstand But I heard the voice of the clergy man When he said
IGZIABEHER! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Jah! IGZIABEHER! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Yeah! But it was written in the faith and he goes Telling the bear and eagles False unto man and man And such and such and such Saying We should live upright Oh, should not fight and fuss Deliveror must be clean And thus and thus and thus O Buju Banton, lip of brass Then I saw the man with the golden cross As he went down into the water Behold the sands he trod I could not repeat afterwards He said IGZIABEHER! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Ja! IGZIABEHER! Yah! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Yeah! Well, they're all dressed in white Woman and man on every side Children all were there Feeling joy in side And then the champions reign They prayed, I sang In their mouths they tipped a little wine and dread And they remember Every word the Great One said From priest to prophet Abraham right down to Zed All my people, you should be there to behold The sight I have seen Oh it's gonna run could never to-o-o-o Well, why, why, wo-o-o-o-o IGZIABEHER! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Jah! IGZIABEHER! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Jah! In dreams I saw More than twenty thousand chariots And their leader, yeah, was the great Tekla Haimanot Trod they were going Chanting such a sweet song I could not overstand But I heard the voice of the clergy man When he said IGZIABEHER! Behold, He is the beginning and the end The Alpha and Omega (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! Behold, He come into life in brimstone and fire (Lord of lords) Jah! Igziabeher!...
Goddess Justice
I love you Buju! 🙌🏾They try to dirty your name but those who understand knows how it goes.
mike kpacks
Sending positive vibes to my brothers and sisters. Jab bless, Give thanks and praises.
boomboom balinda
BLESSINGS TO MY BROTHER BUJU ISRAEL YOUR SPIRIT AS ALWAYS SPOKEN TO YOU ALL PRAISES TO THE MOST HIGH GOD
Rod Azlan
It's the musical force. #Riddim #jerusalem
TheLadyOfSoul502
Buju knows the truth!
Cecilia Moran
Hail Ishmael Wadada From the Root of David, he's Amlak Hail Ishmael Amlak From the Root of the great man Solomon, he's Rasta IGZIABEHER! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Jah!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST!
IGZIABEHER!
(King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Jah! When I saw more than twenty thousand chariots And their leader, yes, he was the great Tekla Haimanot And they were going, Lord Singing such a sweet song I could not overstand But I heard the voice of the clergy man When he said
IGZIABEHER! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Jah! IGZIABEHER! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Yeah! But it was written in the faith and he goes Telling the bear and eagles False unto man and man And such and such and such Saying We should live upright Oh, should not fight and fuss Deliveror must be clean And thus and thus and thus O Buju Banton, lip of brass Then I saw the man with the golden cross As he went down into the water Behold the sands he trod I could not repeat afterwards He said IGZIABEHER! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Ja! IGZIABEHER! Yah! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Yeah! Well, they're all dressed in white Woman and man on every side Children all were there Feeling joy in side And then the champions reign They prayed, I sang In their mouths they tipped a little wine and dread And they remember Every word the Great One said From priest to prophet Abraham right down to Zed All my people, you should be there to behold The sight I have seen Oh it's gonna run could never to-o-o-o Well, why, why, wo-o-o-o-o IGZIABEHER! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Jah! IGZIABEHER! (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! (Lord of lords) Jah! In dreams I saw More than twenty thousand chariots And their leader, yeah, was the great Tekla Haimanot Trod they were going Chanting such a sweet song I could not overstand But I heard the voice of the clergy man When he said IGZIABEHER! Behold, He is the beginning and the end The Alpha and Omega (King of kings) NEGUS NAGAST! Behold, He come into life in brimstone and fire (Lord of lords) Jah! Igziabeher!...
Christa Salcedo
I've been looking for this...but it found me🙏❤
Khwantza Mac
I member when Morgan Heritage release this chunnnnneeeeee yah. It stayed on repeat to bumbo claaaaat. Gargaaaaaaamel
Michael Ellis
King of Kings!
Mabrak
Feels this one like current Gargamel it real ! The coronation.