Buju BantonBuju Banton was born in July 15, 1973 and his full name is Mark Anthony Myrie, he grew up in Barbican.
His family which is big (a family of fifteen), is a direct descendant of the Maroons, a fiercely independent clan of fugitive
slaves who banded together and fended off attacks from British colonial regiments who wished to return them to slavery.
He was borned a chubby child and was nicknamed Buju, the Maroon word for breadfruit. The Banton came from Burro Banton,
a Reggae Artiste that inspired him.
For Buju, hard life was no exception. He could remember at times when the family lived in a one room site. There was no running
water, they had to get water from a standpipe in the yard. However, it was his microphone ability that brought him out of the ghetto.
He's guided his pet project, Operation Willy, which helps children with AIDS support in Jamaica. He and members of his fan club
has visited many ill children, offering moral support as well. His next step is the launching of the Operation Label, where other artistes
can record songs, from which the money will be donated to the Foundation, and then get the Foundation international.
During 1985-1986 he began doing "specials" for local sound systems, however his first big break occurred in the latter part of '86
when he eventually recorded his first single "The Ruler" after being brought to the studio by fellow DJ Clement Irie. His second single
"I Got to Leave You" followed soon after.
Between 1987 and 1991 he recorded songs like "Boom Bye Bye", "Man fi Dead" , "Stamina Daddy", "Matie" and "Jackie and Joyce".
His first major hit "Browning" was recorded in late 1991 and rode the top of the reggae charts in the Caribbean, U.S.A., Japan, and
Canada. Along with the success of this single, controversy also grew due to the fact that the song praised women of a light complexion
and thus many dark-skinned women felt left out, or insulted. Buju successfully "calmed the storm" and resolved this problem with his
next single "Love Black Woman" in which he reveals his attraction to dark-skinned women.
Many hits followed thereafter, such as "Move you Body","Good looking Gal", "Gold Spoon", "Woman no Fret","Batty Rider",
"Love how de gal dem a Flex". Throughout '93 and '94 Buju's popularity sky rocketed. He toured many major cities in Europe,
Asia and the Americas, and added five international music awards to his rapidly increasing collection.
He has released five albums:
Stamina Daddy (Techniques 1991)
Mr. Mention (Penthouse 1991)
Voice Of Jamaica (Mercury 1993)
'Til Shiloh (Loose Cannon 1995)
Inna Heights (Jet Star/VP Records 1997)
