Buju Banton‘s 12th studio album “Born For Greatness” is the Def Jam follow up to “Upside Down 2022,” and it is the updated sound that fans have been waiting on since he came home from prison in 2018.
The ‘Stamina Daddy’ artist says he has been paying keen attention to the music industry and for the most part he is unimpressed with the longevity of the music that he has heard recently.
“Since I have been home I have heard so many songs but where are they now? I don’t even remember them and it wasn’t like that. Music is the only thing that is not supposed to die so when we come to a point where the music is dying you have to really evaluate what you are doing.”
So what do fans want to hear from Buju in 2023? To hear about his time in prison, the friends he made, the love he lost, and lessons learned. “Born For Greatness” satisfies that appetite somewhat.
As a figurehead of the global reggae music scene, the star of contemporary reggae who went on a sold out stadium tour in the Caribbean, parts of Europe and Africa and he often rejects conventional routes and symbols of success. In one of his bi-monthly instagram rants he declared “music nah sell,” but on the cover of “Born For Greatness” he dons symbols of wealth and accomplishments- a heavy gold chain crown on his head, 8 finger rings, and a gold bracelet.
Banton’s greatness can be traced all throughout his extensive and revered catalog that spans over 30 years, and it may come as a surprise that he only has one RIAA certified Gold album in the US and one certified Gold single in Canada. His philosophy is summed up by the chorus in a song from his new album,”I don’t follow your rules, I guess I’m lawless/still making big moves regardless.”
There are no salutes to Selassie as was the case with reggae albums of the past but the Stephan Marley produced guitar heavy track “Ageless Time” starts the album and it is tailed by the Dean Mundy assisted “Let My People Go,” which both take aim at an oppressive system.
The project is packed with 17 musical reggae ballads, mostly produced by Buju and Jermaine Ried Engineer lasting 56 minutes and 22 seconds.
R&B infused tracks like “Plans” produced by Buju and “Body Touching Body” with Victoria Monét produced by Haitian DJ/Record producer Michaël Brun places Buju in a wider framework as a singer.
Buju’s ability to soften his vocals and breath melodies into well-worked gear changes make the album easy to listen which has been a missing element in Jamaican music since Chronixx’s Chonology in 2017. Passionate pleading on the horn laced “Walked out,” reflective and even prayerful lamentations on “We Find A Way,” remind everyone why Buju is the Gargamel- a giant in music.
★★★★☆
Born For Greatness is released by Gargamel Music Under exclusive license to Roc Nation LLC and Def Jam Records.
