If you walked into a Jamaican dancehall in 1992, you weren't just hearing music. You were hearing a revolution. A skinny kid with a voice like sandpaper and gravel was systematically dismantling records held by Bob Marley. That kid was Mark Myrie, better known as Buju Banton. Honestly, it’s hard to overstate how much he dominated. Most artists are lucky to have one "era." Buju has had about four, each one sounding completely different from the last.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just someone who heard "Champion" at a backyard BBQ and wanted more, finding the best of Buju Banton isn't just about a greatest hits tracklist. It’s about the shift from the "rude boy" digital dancehall of the early 90s to the deep, spiritual Rastafarian roots music that defined his later years.
The Mr. Mention Era: When Buju Broke the Charts
In 1992, Buju did the unthinkable. He surpassed Bob Marley for the most number-one singles in Jamaica in a single year. Think about that for a second. His album Mr. Mention became the best-selling album in Jamaican history at the time.
This wasn't the "conscious" Buju we know now. This was raw, high-energy dancehall.
- "Love Me Browning": This track was a massive cultural flashpoint. It celebrated lighter-skinned women, which caused such a stir in Jamaica that Buju actually had to release "Love Black Woman" shortly after to show love to the "dark complexion" sisters. It’s a fascinating look at the social politics of the island through music.
- "Bogle": Named after the legendary dancer Gerald "Bogle" Levy. If you want to understand the vibe of 90s Kingston, this is the blueprint.
- "Bonafide Love": Featuring Wayne Wonder. This is basically the gold standard for "Singjay" collaborations. Wayne’s smooth-as-silk vocals against Buju’s rough growl created a formula that everyone from Sean Paul to Drake has tried to mimic since.
People forget how young he was. He was basically a teenager running the entire industry with a flow that was faster and more aggressive than anyone had ever heard.
Why 'Til Shiloh Is the Best of Buju Banton (Period)
Ask any reggae purist and they’ll tell you: 1995 changed everything. Buju had converted to Rastafari. He grew out his locks. He stopped shouting and started soul-searching. The result was 'Til Shiloh, an album that many consider the greatest reggae project of the modern era.
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It wasn't just a collection of songs; it was a vibe shift. He moved away from purely digital "riddims" and brought in live instrumentation—acoustic guitars, live drums, and African percussion.
The Tracks You Can't Skip
"Untold Stories" is arguably his masterpiece. It’s just Buju and an acoustic guitar. It’s stripped back, vulnerable, and heartbreakingly honest about the struggles of the Jamaican working class. When he sings, "While I'm living, I give thanks and praises," you feel it in your bones.
Then there is "Murderer." He wrote this after the tragic shooting deaths of his friends and fellow musicians Pan Head and Dirtsman. It wasn't a "diss track." It was a plea for the violence in the dancehall community to stop. Ironically, it became one of the biggest anthems in those very same dancehalls.
"Wanna Be Loved" is the one that gets the most radio play in the States, and for good reason. It’s got that mid-tempo groove that bridges the gap between R&B and reggae perfectly. It showed he could be a global superstar without losing his "yard" credibility.
The Inna Heights Follow-up and the Grammy Journey
If 'Til Shiloh was the spiritual awakening, 1997's Inna Heights was the confirmation. Most artists fail the "sophomore" test after a classic, but Buju doubled down.
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- "Hills and Valleys": This is the song you play when you’re going through it. It’s a spiritual lighthouse.
- "Destiny": Buju once said in an interview that this song was recorded at a pivotal point in his life. It’s about taking control of your own path, a theme that would become very literal for him later.
- "Our Father in Zion": A straight-up prayer. It showed that he wasn't just using Rasta imagery for "cool points"—he was deep in the faith.
Fast forward to 2011. While Buju was embroiled in a massive legal battle in the United States, his album Before the Dawn won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album. It was a bittersweet moment. He wasn't there to accept it. The album itself is darker, more contemplative. Songs like "Life" and "Do Good" felt like a man reflecting on his own mortality and mistakes.
The Long Walk to Freedom: The 2026 Perspective
Since his release and return to Jamaica in late 2018, the world has been watching to see if the "Gargamel" still has the magic. The "Long Walk to Freedom" tour, which kicked off in Kingston in 2019 and has seen massive iterations even into 2025 and 2026 (like the recent US Virgin Islands shows with Tarrus Riley), proved the demand never went away.
His newer stuff, like the Upside Down 2020 album and 2023's Born For Greatness, shows a man who has integrated all his past selves. You get the dancehall "Driver A" energy mixed with the "Buried Alive" introspection.
He even collaborated with Victoria Monét recently on the "Party Girls" remix and "Body To Body," proving he can still hang with the new school of R&B and Pop. It’s weird seeing Buju on a track with Snoop Dogg or DJ Khaled sometimes, but his voice is so distinct it just... works.
What Most People Get Wrong About Buju’s Legacy
A lot of casual listeners think Buju Banton is just another reggae singer. But the nuance is in the transition. He is one of the few artists who successfully bridged the "rude boy" 80s/90s era with the "roots revival" movement.
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He also paved the way for the "singjay" style—that half-singing, half-rapping delivery. Before Buju, you were usually either a "singer" like Beres Hammond or a "deejay" like Shabba Ranks. Buju proved you could be both. He could growl a verse and then hit a melodic hook that stayed in your head for weeks.
A Quick Guide to Starting Your Collection:
If you’re building a "Best of Buju Banton" playlist right now, don't just hit "shuffle" on a streaming service. Sort it by era. Start with the madness of Mr. Mention, transition into the soul of 'Til Shiloh, and finish with the maturity of Inna Heights.
- Essential "Rude Boy" Track: "Batty Rider" (Classic 90s dancehall energy).
- Essential "Soul" Track: "Till I'm Laid to Rest" (The ultimate Rasta anthem).
- Essential "Modern" Track: "Blessed" (From the 2020 era, very catchy).
- The Wildcard: "No More Misty Days" with the punk band Rancid. Yes, Buju did punk reggae, and it’s actually fire.
Reggae music is supposed to "uplift and educate," as Buju often says. Looking at his 30-year career, he’s definitely done both, even through the controversies and the "hills and valleys" of his own life.
Your Next Step
Go listen to the album 'Til Shiloh from start to finish. Don't skip tracks. Pay attention to how the live drums change the energy compared to the digital beats of his earlier work. It's the best way to understand why this man is a living legend in the Caribbean. After that, look up his 2019 "Long Walk to Freedom" performance at the National Stadium in Kingston—the energy in that crowd tells you everything you need to know.