- Source of Wealth: Music
- Age: 46
- Birth Place: Kingston, Jamaica
- Height: 1.88 m (6′ 2″)
- Marital Status: Divorced (Nina Atalah)
- Full Name: Mark Anthony Myrie
- Nationality: Jamaican
- Date of Birth: July 15, 1973
- Ethnicity: Jamaican
- Occupation: DJ and Singer
- Education: University of New York
- Children: 5 (Jahazeil, Jodian, Shadai, Jahleel and Mark)
Buju Banton was one of the most popular dancehall reggae artists of the ’90s. Debuting with a series of popular “slack” singles, which drew criticism for their graphic sexuality and homophobia, Banton converted to Rastafarianism and revolutionized dancehall by employing the live instrumentation and social consciousness of classic roots reggae. He first adopted the approach on his 1995 classic ‘Til Shiloh, which raised hopes among his fans that he would become dancehall’s great international ambassador, as Bob Marley had been for roots reggae. While that never quite materialized, Banton remained a high-profile star into the new millennium.
Mark Anthony Myrie was born on July 15, 1973, in the Kingston slum of Salt Lane. Buju was his childhood nickname, a word for breadfruit that was often applied to chubby children; he later adopts Banton in tribute to one of his earliest musical influences, Burro Banton.
Buju Banton was sentenced to 10 years in prison on June 24, 2011, for cocaine trafficking. He has been behind bars since late 2009 after he was busted for buying drugs from an undercover police officer. On May 14, 2015, the federal prosecutors agreed to drop firearms charges against him.