Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley has officially earned his second Gold single in the United Kingdom, as “Make It Bun Dem” with Skrillex has surpassed 400,000 in sales and streams equivalent units sold, according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The certification was awarded on September 26, 2025.
It is Skrillex’s 10th single to reach the milestone.
The official music video, directed by Tony Truand, has racked up more than 600 million views on YouTube since its release on September 6, 2012. The visuals, filmed in Lincoln Park, Michigan, depict the struggle between residents losing their homes and an officer enforcing evictions on behalf of developers. It features a moving ceremonial dance performed by young Native American actor Zakiah Phillips.
Released on May 1, 2012, the dubstep-reggae fusion track originally began as an instrumental titled “Rudeboy Bass”. Fans gave it the nickname due to its distinctive “rudeboy bass, mash up the place!” sample. In early 2012, Marley added fresh vocals—rather than using existing lyrics from his hit “Welcome to Jamrock.” The finished version, “Make It Bun Dem,” premiered at Surrender Nightclub in Las Vegas on January 21, 2012, and appeared on Marley’s SoundCloud before its wide release.
The song became a cultural crossover moment, peaking at No. 1 on the now-discontinued Billboard Reggae Digital Songs Chart. It also reached international charts, including No. 27 in Australia, No. 34 in Austria, No. 15 in Belgium, No. 16 in New Zealand, and No. 14 on the U.K. Dance Chart. In the U.S., it peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
The track’s legacy grew further when it was featured in Ubisoft’s blockbuster video game Far Cry 3 during the mission “Kick the Hornet’s Nest.” An official remix EP, “Make It Bun Dem After Hours,” dropped later in 2012 with contributions from Culprate, Brodinski, and David Heartbreak.
Over the years, “Make It Bun Dem” has collected certifications worldwide. It went Platinum in the U.S. (1 million units, RIAA, 2017), Gold in Canada (40,000 units), Gold in Italy (15,000 units) and Gold in Denmark for 900,000 streams.
