Buju Banton

Buju Banton, born Mark Anthony Myrie in 1973 in Jamaica, is one of the defining voices of dancehall and reggae music from the 1990s onward. He began releasing dancehall singles in the late 1980s and rose to national prominence in 1992 with the album «Mr. Mention», which became a major commercial success in Jamaica and established him as a leading figure of the genre's new generation.

His career has spanned two distinct phases: an early period marked by raw, uptempo dancehall and controversial lyrical content, and a later, more reflective phase following his conversion to Rastafari in the mid-1990s, after which his music took on deeper spiritual and sociopolitical themes. Albums like «Voice of Jamaica», released after signing to a major label, showcased his range across dancehall, roots reggae and conscious lyricism.

Buju Banton's later work, including the Grammy-winning «Before the Dawn», solidified his status as one of reggae's most respected and influential artists, admired for his gravelly, expressive voice and his ability to move between celebratory dancehall anthems and songs addressing poverty, identity and faith.