Grammy-winning dancehall reggae star Buju Banton is going to prison for 10 years for drug trafficking and firearms possession.
In February he was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine, of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and using the wires to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.
US District Judge, James Moody gave Banton—whose real name is Mark Myrie—the minimum sentence allowed and the singer will serve them in a maximum security facility.
Banton is the man most widely cited as responsible for kickstarting the ongoing wave of anti-gay lyrics in reggae with his early 90s song “Boom Bye Bye,” which called for gay men (“da chi chi man”) to be shot in the head and set on fire. In recent years he’s mostly abandoned making anti-gay statements and once spoke about being “wrong” for recording the offending song, but resists making any kind of overtures to gay audiences, often choosing to cast himself as the victim of racist gay activists, even as he speaks out on behalf of other oppressed populations in the world. As recently as 2009 he said, “There is no end to war between me and faggot.”
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Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
In other words, it’s still a little understandable if, after hearing this news, you feel that justice is being served on more than one level.
christopher di spirito
BuJu looks like that monster in ‘The Predator.”
http://www.planetavp.com/images/avpmovie/predators_small.jpg
ewe
Gay activists = cocaine trafficking???? That’s news to me. Bye bye.
Samuel Kestu
Mark Myrie, who is known as “Buju Banton,” made anti LGBT comments at least through 2008. You can hear him in this video http://bit.ly/infCRs made on 10/27/08 in which he delivers a rant against gay marriage, says that “Boom Bye Bye,” his “kill LGBT” anthem will “last a million years” and ends his routine with his infamous “there is no end to the war between me and faggots” line.
Buju never repudiated the “kill LGBT” message of “Boom Bye Bye.” See http://bit.ly/dhQ0VC
Samuel Kestu
By the way, the “possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense” charge was dropped by the judge during sentencing.
Buju Banton is serving 10 years in U.S. federal prison for “conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and using a telephone to commit a drug offense.”
JUAN
THIS MAN IS A MOSTER.,…. HE DESERVS ALL THAT IS COMING TO HIM. HIS LYRICS ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FORM MANY CRIMES AGAINST THE GAY COMMUITY AND HE AS WELL AS OTHERS IN HIS CULTURE MUST PAY FOR WHAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR…….
HE IS NOTHING BUT A THUG, IT ALL COMES DOWN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER…….
SuperCat
Yeah I can’t believe he got away with those lyrics.
There is free speech, but I don’t think free speech includes inciting violence.
I mean, if he just said he hated gays, I would begrudgingly tolerate his right to free speech. But he was outright calling for acts of violence. That goes too far.
Bill
bring plenty of lube, Banton!
Mike in Asheville
@Samuel Kestu: Absolutely right!
Dave White/Queerty, Buju has not repudiated his homophobia and anti-gay bigotry. Check your own posts from the last 2 years and read how you exposed Buju’s practice of only pretending to become more aware and accepting when his concerts are in jeopardy of being canceled. After leaving meetings with gay activists, Buju rerants his bigotry.
Mike in Asheville
@Bill: Buju is a revolting vile bigot. He is a drug dealer. And now he is a prison convict. DOES NOT EXCUSE RAPE JOKES.
We properly rail against Buju for calling out death and violence against gays/lesbians. Are you much better than Buju joking about rape and violence against him?
Queer Supremacist
Boom Bye Bye Breeder! Don’t drop the soap, you worthless cat fucker!
@Mike in Asheville: Wasn’t it you who once said those who work to deny innocent people their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness forfeit it for themselves?
Shannon1981
Let him rot in there. I don’t think for a second he thinks he was “wrong” and I absolutely believe that he would murder gay people if he could. I hope he gets charged with something else and is in prison for a long, long time.
Dave White
@Mike in Asheville: You are correct. He goes back and forth with what he says and I did, in fact, leave out the comment from 2009. Fixing that now.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
I’m shocked he got such a long sentence. He’s rich, and famous, don’t they usually get a slap on the wrist?
Mike in Asheville
@Queer Supremacist: Good memory — indeed I did write that almost exactly as you remembered.
BUT, there is a significant difference between Buju’s mouthing-off anti-gay bigotry and violence in the lyrics of one song AND actual physical gay bashers or advocates of “kill the gays” and “round up the gays” legislators.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY SYMPATHY FOR BUJU; I think he is a vile scum bucket who boosts his celebrity who outrageously expressed bigotry and, obviously, a drug dealer. Nonetheless, I believe his music deserves the equal protection of free speech (at least in the US).
***************
There are not, and for good reason, easy answers about one’s free speech to be a horrible small-minded bigot.
This reminds me of a discussion about the death penalty as it related to a serial killer:
First Person: No one deserves to die.
Second Person: Not everyone deserves to live.
Mike in Asheville
@Dave White: Thanks; I read your rewrite and think you have properly captured Buju’s linguistic gymnastics of trying to not have his concerts canceled and still being a homophobe.
**********
One small bit of advice for you and Queerty: when you edit and/or update a post, could you line through instead of erasing changes? This way, early comments made before an edit show an evolving dialog making a more informative post.
Cheers.
Sebastian
Justice has been served!