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.
What You Gonna Do?
Buju Banton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The rude boy is feeling
I'm so lonely inside
This rude boy feel like screaming
I'm lonely lonely lonely
Girl I'm lonely for you only
Feeling lonely lonely lonely
Stein!
What ya gonna do
Woman fed up, wants nothing to do with you
Can't see through
Me say it get together woman dem no
Inna not a acapella fellow
Good weather bad weather strong umbrella
Yu back affi broad
Mek di woman feel as if she flying on a Concord
Yes mi bredda mi say use up cool water
What ya gonna do to obtain this daughter
Have the lamb in hand let it escape slaughter
Now all over town you is a laugh
Cho cho
What ya gonna do
Was it something that I've done
Was it something that I've said
Tell me tell me
What can I do to change your mind
Lady don't let me down not this time
No no no no
Lady I give you all the loving
The affection that I have
Undivided attention
Never treated you bad
Don't you leave a lonely man, I'll be literally mad
You bring joy to this boy
With the loving that you have
Fantabulous smile
Captivate me all the while
Lonely lonely lonely like a motherless child
You curve mi observe woman it rest upon me nerve
Your lovin I'm missing night and day
The ragga is reminiscing
I sing what you gonna do
In this song, Buju Banton portrays the sadness and loneliness that can come from losing love. The rude boy character is feeling a deep sense of emptiness and desperation, which he expresses through the repetition of the word "lonely." The lyrics suggest that the loss of love has left him feeling incomplete, like something essential is missing from his life. He longs for his lover and feels desperate to win her back, asking "What can I do to change your mind?"
The second part of the song is directed towards men who mistreat women, prompting them to reflect on their actions and behave better towards the opposite sex. Buju's lyrics send a message of reconciliation and calls on men to treat women with respect and kindness. He warns men against womanizing and mistreating their partners, saying "Inna not a acapella fellow / Good weather bad weather strong umbrella / Yu back affi broad / Mek di woman feel as if she flying on a Concord." The lyrics urge men to take care of their relationships and the women they love, or risk becoming a laughing stock in the eyes of society.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh what a feeling
The rude boy is experiencing a complex mix of emotions.
The rude boy is feeling
The artist is portraying the emotions of a rude boy who is overwhelmed by his feelings.
I'm so lonely inside
The rude boy is feeling lonely and isolated.
I'm lonely lonely lonely
The artist is emphasizing the loneliness the rude boy is feeling.
Girl I'm lonely for you only
The rude boy's loneliness is directed towards a specific woman.
Feeling lonely lonely lonely
The artist is emphasizing the emotional state of the rude boy.
Girl I'm lonely lonely lonely
The artist is emphasizing the particular woman the rude boy is feeling lonely for.
What ya gonna do
The artist is asking a question of the woman.
Woman fed up, wants nothing to do with you
The woman is unhappy and no longer wants to be involved with the rude boy.
Can't see through
The rude boy cannot understand what has caused the woman's behavior.
Me say it get together woman dem no
The artist suggests that the rude boy should try to reconcile with the woman.
Inna not a acapella fellow
The artist is asserting that he is not a person who can work alone and needs the woman's support.
Good weather bad weather strong umbrella
The artist is saying that no matter the conditions, he will support the woman.
Yu back affi broad
The artist is implying that the rude boy needs to be strong and dependable for the woman.
Mek di woman feel as if she flying on a Concord
The artist is saying that the rude boy needs to make the woman feel special and valued.
Yes mi bredda mi say use up cool water
The artist is advising the rude boy to calm down and think clearly to solve the problem.
What ya gonna do to obtain this daughter
The artist is asking the rude boy how he will win back the woman's affection.
Have the lamb in hand let it escape slaughter
The artist is suggesting that the rude boy needs to protect what he has before he loses it.
Now all over town you is a laugh
The artist is saying that the rude boy has become a joke to others due to his behavior towards the woman.
Cho cho
The artist is expressing shock or disbelief at the rude boy's current situation.
Was it something that I've done
The artist is questioning what actions led to the woman's unhappiness.
Was it something that I've said
The artist is questioning whether his words have caused the woman's dissatisfaction.
Tell me tell me
The artist is pleading with the woman to share her thoughts and feelings.
What can I do to change your mind
The artist is asking the woman what he needs to do to make her happy again.
Lady don't let me down not this time
The artist is emphasizing that he does not want to lose the woman this time.
Lady I give you all the loving
The artist is saying that he has given the woman all his love.
The affection that I have
The artist is emphasizing the depth of his feeling towards the woman.
Undivided attention
The artist is suggesting that he has given all his focus and care to the woman.
Never treated you bad
The artist is highlighting that he has treated the woman with respect and kindness.
Don't you leave a lonely man, I'll be literally mad
The artist is warning the woman that if she leaves him, he will become extremely distraught.
You bring joy to this boy
The artist is expressing gratitude towards the woman for the happiness she has brought him.
With the loving that you have
The artist is emphasizing the importance of the woman's love to his life.
Fantabulous smile
The artist is expressing admiration for the woman's smile.
Captivate me all the while
The artist is saying that the woman holds his attention constantly.
Lonely lonely lonely like a motherless child
The artist is comparing his loneliness to that of a child without a mother.
You curve mi observe woman it rest upon me nerve
The artist is saying that the woman's physical appearance triggers his emotions.
Your lovin I'm missing night and day
The artist is expressing how much he misses the woman's love and affection.
The ragga is reminiscing
The artist is reminiscing about the past.
I sing what you gonna do
The artist is repeating the question he has been asking the woman throughout the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Charles Von Wayne, Donovan Germain, Mark Myrie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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?