Mark Anthony Myrie alias Buju Banton was born in Kingston, Jamaica on 15 July 1973.
He is a Jamaican dancehall and reggae musician who is widely considered as one of the most significant and well-regarded artists in Jamaican music.
He was the youngest of fifteen children born into a family that was directly descended from the Maroons of Jamaica.
Banton has collaborated with many international artists, including those in the Hip Hop, Latin and punk rock genres, as well as the sons of Bob Marley.
Banton released a number of dancehall singles as early as 1987 but came to prominence in 1992 with two albums, Stamina Daddy and Mr. Mention, the latter which became the best-selling album in Jamaican history upon its release.
That year he also broke the record for #1 singles in Jamaica, previous held by Bob Marley and signed with the major label Mercury Records, releasing Voice of Jamaica in 1993. By the mid-1990s, Banton’s music became more influenced by his Rastafari faith, as heard on the seminal albums ‘Til Shiloh and Inna Heights.
Buju Banton Net Worth
The Јаmаісаn dаnсеhаll, rаggа, rеggае аnd muѕісіаn hаѕ еаrnеd іn mіllіоnѕ wіth hіѕ ѕuссеѕѕful ѕіnglеѕ аnd аlbumѕ lіkе Тіl Ѕhіlоh.
Hе has an еѕtіmаtеd nеt wоrth of $2 – $5 mіllіоn mаkіng hіm оnе оf thе rісhеѕt DЈs іn Јаmаіса. Тhоugh lіоn ѕhаrеѕ оf hіѕ nеt wоrth аrе linked tо hіѕ аlbum Тіl Ѕhіlоh.
Еѕtіmаtеd rесоrd ѕаlеѕ оf thе аlbum, Тіl Ѕhіlоh wоrldwіdе аѕ оf 2010 wаѕ $750,00 UЅ dоllаrѕ wіth thе ѕеllіng оf 500,000 соріеѕ.
Не аlѕо ѕіgnеd wіth ѕоmе іntеrnаtіоnаl rесоrdіng ѕtudіоѕ ѕuсh аѕ Меrсurу оr Роlуgrаm rесоrdѕ аnd Тоmmу Воу Еntеrtаіnmеnt аnd еаrnеd іn mіllіоnѕ.
He is said to have been given a Меrсеdеѕ frоm оnе оf hіѕ frіеndѕ аѕ а gіft.
Buju also has homes in Jamaica and Tamarac, Florida, United States.
He is a father of 15 children.
Show charges
After his release from prison in 2018, it was said the dancehall superstar could easily collect gig fees in excess of US$100,000 at main music festivals after being released from prison later this year.
The heavy price tag was sparked by the high demand for the Grammy Award-winning musician who has been behind bars, serving a drug trafficking sentence, since June 2011.
He could also charge $35 per performance.
Buju Banton Arrest
In December 2009 Drug Enforcement Administration agents remanded Banton to custody in Miami, where the U.S Attorney charged him with conspiracy to distribute and possession of more than five kilograms of cocaine.
Banton was then moved to the Pinellas County Jail where he remained until trial.
During the trial, audio recordings were presented of Banton and a drug-dealer-turned-government-informant discussing drugs, drug prices and smuggling.
Banton was also seen on a video recording meeting the informant in a police-controlled warehouse tasting cocaine from a kilogram bag. The informant was reportedly paid $50,000 for his work on the case.
The singer was released that November on bond.
On 22 February 2011, Banton was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense and using communication wires to facilitate a drug-trafficking offense.
Four months later, he was sentenced to ten years and one month in a federal prison for the cocaine trafficking conviction.
Banton was released on 7 December 2018 from McRae Correctional Institution.
