Buju Banton

Buju Banton
Banton in 2006
Background information
Birth name	Mark Anthony Myrie
Also known as	Gargamel
Born	(1973-07-15) 15 July 1973 (age 50) Kingston, Jamaica
Genres	Dancehall roots reggae[1]
Occupation(s)	Deejay singer songwriter
Years active	1987–2011 2018–present
Labels	Techniques Penthouse Mercury PolyGram Loose Cannon Island VP Gargamel Music Roc Nation

Mark Anthony Myrie (born 15 July 1973),^[2] known professionally as Buju Banton, is a Jamaican reggae dancehall musician. He is one of the most significant and well-regarded artists in Jamaican music.^[3][4][5] Banton has collaborated with many international artists, including those in the hip hop, Latin and punk rock genres, as well as the sons of Bob Marley.^[6]

Banton released a number of dancehall singles as early as 1987 but came to prominence in 1992 with two albums, Stamina Daddy and Mr. Mention, the latter becoming the best-selling album in Jamaican history upon its release.^[7] That year he also broke the record for No. 1 singles in Jamaica, previously held by Bob Marley and the Wailers.^[8] He signed with the major label Mercury Records and released Voice of Jamaica in 1993. By the mid-1990s, Banton's music became more influenced by his Rastafari faith, as heard on the seminal albums 'Til Shiloh and Inna Heights.

In 2009, he was arrested for cocaine trafficking charges in the United States, his first trial resulting in a hung jury. His 2010 album Before the Dawn won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. In 2011, he was convicted on the aforementioned criminal charge and was imprisoned in the U.S. until December 2018, whereupon he was released, and deported^[9] home to Jamaica.