Jamaican entertainer, Mark Myrie, best known by his stage name, Buju Banton- yesterday walked out of a Tampa, Florida courtroom victorious. No, he was not freed from the prison cell he’d been occupying since 2009 but the gun possession charge that had been part and parcel of his nightmare, was dropped. ETCETERABUZZ.COM, in our bid to bring the Caribbean full circle, spoke with a couple of our Trinidad based artistes who reflected on Buju Banton’s legacy, one of them telling us that the ‘Optimistic Soul’ hit maker had even offered him words of positive inspiration when he was about to embark on starting his own band.

Kerry John says Buju has been an inspiration.
Banton was arrested in 2009 on a charge of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, more than 5 kilograms of cocaine. Yesterday, we spoke with Trinidad and Tobago reggae and soca entertainer, Kerry John who said he felt good to know that the gun charge had been dropped. “I hope he eventually comes out and corrects his wrongs because once you have time, you have life,” he said. The young artiste who admitted to being a great fan of Myrie, said he had always looked up to Buju and marvelled at the Jamaican sensation’s artistic ability. “He’s so multi talented. He can sing and he’s lyrically verse and he plays the drums and other instruments,” he said, noting that everyone is not perfect and as such he refused to judge anyone. John’s recent video release for his single ‘Put It On Me’ on the Magic Riddim has him riding a high wave these days but in spite of his elated spirit, there was a sense of sadness felt for the confined reggae crooner.

Buju Banton encouraged Shurwayne to start his band.
We also caught up with Shurwayne Winchester who in recent years has collaborated on a number of tracks with some of Jamaica’s artistes. Winchester said Buju Banton’s music has always been very influential on his career, especially the lyrical content and the way he structured his lyrics. “He’s an elder who has offered such great reggae vibes. He was a very consistent artiste. I saw him at several shows and when I was thinking about starting the band, Buju told me- ‘what is for you is for you, get up and get it.'”
Shurwayne said he’d shared the stage with Buju at a Caribbean show prior to his incarceration some years ago and was impressed at how through music, he fed the minds of the youths and tried to teach them to believe in themselves.
Buju Banton’s last appearance in Trinidad and Tobago was at the I Am Legend concert event hosted by Home Grown Entertainment in 2009. He had provided reggae lovers with a show, the magnitude of which, has since, never been outdone, according to many. Many of his fans in T&T- like the rest of the world, anticipate his freedom with hopes of seeing him live on stage at a massive venue like Trinidad’s Queen’s Park Savannah, again. On Facebook, fans of the reggae superstar plea for his freedom, some echoing the words of his hit single, ‘They shoulda never hurt Buju.”

Buju Banton’s new single- ‘Pressure Dem’
Yesterday’s verdict now leaves his attorney mulling over whether an appeal should be filed to have his drug conviction overturned. According to the Jamaica Observer, Buju’s defence attorney, Kwame Lumumba said they are not certain whether this will be done, at this time, however it is being considered. Buju has already served 40 months of a 10 year sentence and recently a new single called, “Pressure Dem” was released on the Fuss Cuss riddim, on the entertainer’s behalf.
REVEL IN THE MUSIC
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