Buju Banton Is (Sorta) Back! The Dancehall Bad Boy Hits Bayfront January 16

When discussing dancehall, there are certain names that come to mind, all coincidentally starting with the letter B, like Beanie Man, Bounty Killer, Buju Banton. For some, those names are sacred. For others, they're curse words. And Buju Banton has definitely experienced his fair share of negative press. Most recently,...

By Esther Park

December 14, 2010

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When discussing dancehall, there are certain names that come to mind, all coincidentally starting with the letter B, like Beanie Man, Bounty Killer, Buju Banton.

For some, those names are sacred. For others, they're curse words. And Buju Banton has definitely experienced his fair share of negative press. Most recently, Banton (real name Mark Myrie) was arrested in December of last year on suspicion of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine.

Only a little over a month ago on November 10, Buju was set free ... Sorta. He is currently out on a $250,000 bail and he's awaiting a retrial in February 2011.

So with just three full months of semi-freedom, Buju's wasting no time. For one, he's out celebrating the fact that his latest album, Before the Dawn, scored a Best Reggae Album nomination for the 53rd Grammy Awards. For another, Buju's throwing a mega reggae bash at Bayfront Park on January 16 during Martin Luther King weekend.

It will be Buju's first public appearance since his stint behind bars and most likely his last before he gets re-entangled with legal proceedings. So for all you diehard reggae heads out there, this concert will indeed be a pivotal moment to kick start the new year.

Expect a ton of reggae and dancehall heavyweights. Among others, Stephen Marley has already been confimed. After all, he was the one that put up his house as bond for Buju's release!

Buju Banton with Steven Marley, Gramps Morgan, Shaggy, Wayne Wonder, Sly N Robbie, and Freddie McGregor. Sunday, January 16, 2011. Bayfront Park Amphitheater, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Tickets cost $53 plus fees via bujulive.com.

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