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.
Politics Time Again
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why my people suffer so bad ?
Who is it that should really be sad ?
Is it... Is it the misplaced melancholic ?
Whoa...
[Chorus:]
Well is't politics time again
My people you ah talk
It's politics time again
Are you gonna vote now ?
My god...
[Verse 1:]
Rise up falling suffer
Rise and take your stands again
He who fights and run away
Will live to fight another day
[Chorus]
Make love and not war
[Verse 2:]
It's the time to duty
Haffi see the chance to vote
Fire bun dem constitution
Long time we need ah choose
Fed up with promises
And hopeless hope
Why the box must be empty
For those clothes
No one harm no one
True the color of the clothes, now
But some just plain greedy
No matter how we teach them
For get easy... yaw
[Chorus]
It's the rasta them talkin'
New gear, new gear
[Verse 3:]
Bloodshed...
From rema-a-and
Down in the valley
Can them hear ya-a-ah
Crack down...
(it's) Has become ah gunman compound
Now bless all people who has seen this shit
Lord
Dem cry reliclesly yeah
You keep on moving
Every minute every hour
Gunshot fall like shower
Whoa like new clear power
[Chorus]
[Verse 4:]
And the likkle want, we want
And the likkle preach, we preach
Selcter buzz thier big on the street, lord
Kill people
What dem really seek?
Who is it that I man speaking?
Who is it that is controlin' the system?
Three parties and I'm not dancing
Who is it then?
Who is she then?
Now who is the Mr. In?
Yeah, it is the pain time
Again now... Whoo
[Chorus]
[Verse 5:]
Everything race
But we won't live in fret
But the air we breath becomes thick with dead
Then we know Jah ah guide
We will never fret
When ever you ready ready
No more sparge
Whenever you light or heavy
Ah pure respect, lord lord lord lord
Now war, now war
[Chorus]
[Repeat Verse 2]
The song "Politics Time Again" by Buju Banton featuring Angel explores the theme of politics in Jamaica. The song discusses the suffering of the people, questioning who should be truly sad about this condition. The chorus urges people to vote during the upcoming election. The lyrics also discuss violence and the need for love instead of war. The song mentions the disappointment with politicians' promises, hopeless hope, and the greed that hinders the development of Jamaica as a nation. The song highlights the importance of exercising the right to vote, finding solutions to the country's problems, and uniting to promote change.
Line by Line Meaning
Why my people suffer so bad ?
The singer questions the source of his people's suffering.
Who is it that should really be sad ?
The singer asks who the true victims of this suffering are.
Is it... Is it the misplaced melancholic ?
The singer considers if perhaps it is those who are sad for reasons unrelated to their own suffering.
Well is't politics time again
The artist announces that it is once again time for political action.
Are you gonna vote now ?
The artist asks if his audience will participate in this political action by voting.
My people you ah talk
The singer is addressing his community.
Rise up falling suffer
The singer is encouraging his listeners to persevere despite their struggles.
Rise and take your stands again
The artist urges his audience to stand up for what they believe in.
He who fights and run away
The artist believes that it is acceptable to retreat from danger in order to live to fight another day.
Will live to fight another day
The artist believes that it is worth retreating from danger in order to continue fighting for one's beliefs in the future.
Make love and not war
The singer encourages peace and love over violence and war.
It's the time to duty
The artist believes that his audience has a duty to act politically.
Haffi see the chance to vote
The singer believes that it is crucial to seize the opportunity to vote.
Fire bun dem constitution
The singer expresses dissatisfaction with the current constitution.
Long time we need ah choose
The singer believes that it is long overdue for his community to make a change.
Fed up with promises
The artist is tired of empty promises from politicians.
And hopeless hope
The artist feels that hope is futile at this point.
Why the box must be empty
The singer is questioning why there are no viable options on the ballot.
For those clothes
The singer believes that sometimes people vote based on superficial factors like clothing or appearance.
No one harm no one
The artist believes that there should be no violence in the political process.
True the color of the clothes, now
The artist is still referencing superficial factors like clothing affecting political decisions.
But some just plain greedy
The artist believes that greed is a factor that affects political actions.
No matter how we teach them
The singer feels that previous attempts to teach politicians to be better have not worked.
For get easy... yaw
The artist expresses frustration and doubt that change will ever come easily.
It's the rasta them talkin'
The singer is referencing the Rastafari movement as a source of political opinion.
New gear, new gear
This line is ambiguous and difficult to interpret.
Bloodshed... From rema-a-and
The singer references the violence and bloodshed that has occurred in the Rema area.
Down in the valley
The artist references a location where violence has occurred.
Can them hear ya-a-ah
The artist questions whether politicians are listening to their constituents.
Crack down... (it's) Has become ah gunman compound
The singer believes that violence has taken over the political process and that this must be addressed.
Now bless all people who has seen this shit
The singer blesses those who have witnessed the injustices and struggles of the political environment.
Dem cry reliclesly yeah
The artist references the cries of the people who have been affected by the violence and injustice in politics.
You keep on moving
The artist encourages his listeners to keep going in spite of the challenges they face.
Every minute every hour
The artist believes that persistence is crucial in the political process.
Gunshot fall like shower
The singer references the prevalence of gun violence in politics.
Whoa like new clear power
The artist compares gun violence to nuclear power, suggesting its destructive force.
And the likkle want, we want
The singer notes that his community's wants are relatively small.
And the likkle preach, we preach
The singer suggests that his community's expressions of protest are not extreme or radical.
Selcter buzz thier big on the street, lord
This line is ambiguous and difficult to interpret.
Kill people
The artist is referencing the violence that occurs in politics.
What dem really seek?
The artist questions what motivates individuals to engage in such violence.
Who is it that I man speaking?
The singer emphasizes that he is speaking to his community.
Who is it that is controlin' the system?
The singer questions who has control over the political system and what their agenda is.
Three parties and I'm not dancing
The artist does not feel aligned with any of the three political parties in his community.
Who is it then? Who is she then?
The artist is questioning who the alternative is to the current political parties.
Now who is the Mr. In?
The artist is questioning who is currently in power.
Yeah, it is the pain time
The singer acknowledges that this is a painful and difficult time for his community.
Again now... Whoo
The artist acknowledges that this is not the first time his community has faced these struggles and that they must keep fighting.
Everything race
The singer is referencing the importance of the political race in his community.
But we won't live in fret
The singer encourages his listeners to remain calm and resilient in the face of political challenges.
But the air we breath becomes thick with dead
The singer references the violence and bloodshed that has occurred in his community.
Then we know Jah ah guide
The artist believes that Jah, or God, will guide them through these struggles.
We will never fret
The artist emphasizes the importance of resilience in the political process.
When ever you ready ready
The singer encourages his listeners to be ready to act politically whenever the opportunity arises.
No more sparge
The singer encourages peace and calm in the political process.
Whenever you light or heavy
The artist is encouraging all members of his community, regardless of their strength or ability, to act politically.
Ah pure respect, lord lord lord lord
The artist expresses deep respect for his community and their resilience in the face of struggle.
Repeat Verse 2
The same interpretation as the original Verse 2.
Contributed by Penelope P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ato Cox
I remember as a kid when this song came out in 1996, and I didn't yet realize Buju took some lines from an actual Bob Marley song (the Heathen). Or realize the "riddim" is a modified version of the "Heathen" song .
Brighton Zion
Till when will the system come to an end. Free buju jah messenger
Sadique Munian
Buja always delivers
Leroy Grumps
Love this one
Stephen Manjoro
Buju Banton!!! Heavy chant...
David Hinkson
Three parties and I'm not dancing - so true!
This Is Where its at
Its that time again!!!
Liam and Sydney J
free buju !!!!
luka morgane
make love and not war ❤🌻💚
Sadique Munian
Being following buja music since 1992