Buju Banton
photo: danielle g. campbell · cc by-sa 4.0 ↗Mark Myrie, known as Buju Banton, rose from Kingston's dancehall sound systems to become one of Jamaica's best-selling artists, with 1992's Mr. Mention breaking sales records on the island. His 1995 album 'Til Shiloh marked a turn from raw dancehall toasting toward Rastafari-informed conscious reggae, a shift that helped shape the sound later Reggae Revival artists would build on. He won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2011 for Before the Dawn.
Buju has been described as drawing on Bob Marley among his formative influences, part of the pull toward Rastafari-centered, message-driven songwriting that reshaped his career after his early dancehall years.
listen forMarley's pan-African rallying cry 'Africa Unite' and Buju's own testimonial 'Untold Stories' both trade dancehall's percussive chat for a warmer, more sung, movement-minded delivery.
Burning Spear's deep, chant-like roots reggae is cited among the artists Buju drew on as his own writing moved toward Rastafari themes and social history in the mid-1990s.
listen forBurning Spear's droning, hypnotic 'Marcus Garvey' and Buju's tense, minor-key 'Murderer' both lean on a slow, weighted riddim to carry heavy subject matter rather than a dancehall bounce.
Dennis Brown, one of the most beloved singers in Jamaican music, is counted among the artists Buju drew inspiration from, particularly in the smoother, lovers-rock-adjacent moments of his catalogue.
listen forDennis Brown's silky, romantic 'Money in My Pocket' and Buju's own tender 'Wanna Be Loved' both soften dancehall's edges into a lovers-rock-style croon.