Artist

Buju Banton

1987-present·Kingston

Buju Banton broke through in the early nineties with an aggressive deejay style and a cadence darker and rougher than most of his peers, before turning toward conscious roots reggae later in his career. His early work drew international backlash over homophobic lyrics in tracks like "Boom Bye Bye," a controversy that forced dancehall to confront what could and couldn't travel on the world stage.

The full story is in Jamaican Dancehall.

At a glance

Active
1987–present
From
Kingston, Jamaica
Listening guide track
“Champion”

Listen

In the Jamaican Dancehall listening guide: “Champion”

Spotify

In the issues

  • Jamaican Dancehall
    Supporting cast · 1979-1995 · Members

    Jamaican Dancehall is a genre from Kingston, Jamaica, 1979–1995. Its principal artists include Yellowman, Shabba Ranks and King Jammy. This issue covers 8 essential albums and 14 dated events.

Terms

Roots reggae
A style of reggae from the 1970s emphasizing Rastafarian spirituality, social commentary, and themes of repatriation and resistance, usually with deep basslines and soulful vocals.