After four Grammy nominations, and 11 UK Reggae number 1’s, Buju Banton is a certified dancehall legend and 
Reggae ambassador in his own right. Being one of a very few Deejays who can successfully have hits as a Roots Reggae artist whilst maintaining his raw-born ragamuffin credentials, it is very hard to find a parallel for the Gargamel who sees the release of his latest set, ‘Rasta Got Soul’, on his own Gargamel label.
Born Mark Anthony Myrie in Kingston, Jamaica, Buju’s career path has been anything but smooth as he has had to navigate through a quagmire of controversy from the very start. Now at the other end of the spectrum, most of the controversies would seem behind him as he helps a new generation of artists fulfil their dreams through his studio and label. Featuring the original ‘Reggae Ambassadors’, Third World, the only other guest on the new set is ex-Fugee, Wyclef Jean.
Although he now famously brandishes his Haitian roots prominently on his proverbial sleeve, 
Clef’s ex band mate Lauryn Hill, revealed in interviews that she’d known the then Rasta for a while before she was shocked to realise that he wasn’t Jamaican but in fact from a different Caribbean island. His love for Reggae was clearly evident from the Fugees’ debut as the Transformer crew when Clef’s rap style referenced a pseudo ‘80’s deejay delivery.
Fast forward a few years and The Fugees split to pursue solo careers and Clef starts touring with a new outfit called the Refugee Camp All Stars featuring his cousin Jerry ‘Wonder’ Duplessis. By now a fully fledged hit-making producer of other artists like Destiny’s Child, he gets artists like Whitney Houston to voice Dub Plates for his band-cum-sound system.
When Wyclef released his second solo effort, ‘The Ecleftic’ as a follow-up to the platinum-selling, ‘The Carnival’, in 2000, the signal of intent was already there for all to hear when the album boasted a dub plate of Country & Western legend, Kenny Rogers ‘bigging up’ the Refugee Camp All Stars with Paroahe Monche on his classic ‘The Gambler’ as he sang ‘You’d better know when to hold..........”
And that’s how you get Buju Banton to go to a Country & Western ‘Carnival’ with Kenny Rogers.
On This Day.......
1991 – Sanchez was tearing up the charts with his ‘I Can’t Wait’. The testament of how classic a tune this is can be borne out by the fact that it still tears up dancefloors today. At number two was Vivian Jones with ‘Strong Love’ and at three was ‘Sluggy’ with his reading of Bob Andy’s ‘Tell Me Now’.
This week’s number one’s around the Reggae world.
‘Blessings Remix’ – Etana & Al Borosie - Germany
‘Come Over’ – Estelle & Sean Paul - RETV (Reggae), JA
‘Head Cyan’t Hot Suh’ – Prodigal Son - France
‘I’m So Blessed’ – Mavado – Outaroad.com, JA/Jamaica Music Count Down (Dancehall)/ RETV Danchall, JA/BBC 1xtra
‘Missing You Right Now’ – Da’ville – Virgin Islands/Jamaica Music Count Down (Reggae)
‘Never Let Go’ – Positive – Caribbean Hot 30
‘No Games’ – Serani - Choice FM, London
‘No Goodbye’ – Beres Hammond - New York, USA/South Florida, USA (Pictured)
‘Time To Shine’ – Laden – New Style, Birmingham, UK
On Air:
Thursday Apr 24th – 10pm – Chi Ching Ching on 1xtra with Robbo Ranx
Fridays – 10pm -12 Midnight – Aston FM 89.1/www.astonfm.com with Chicken George
Saturdays – The Back 2 Da Future Show 7pm – 9pm – www.playvybz.com
Sundays – 10pm -12 Midnight – The Archive Selection on Choice FM as part of Natty B’s Reggae Top 20 Countdown
Live:
April
22nd – May 3rd – Dennis Bovell in South Africa with Linton Kwesi Johnson & The Dub Band
23rd Chi Ching Ching @ Three Black Bird, Bristol, UK
24th – Bongo Chilli @ TJ’s, Leeds, UK
- Chi Ching Ching @ Crackers Nightclub, Gloucester, UK
27th - Chi Ching Ching Farewell Party @ Bamboo Night Club, Reading, UK
29th – Chevelle Franklyn @ Eagles Christian Convention 2009, Johannesburg, South Africa
May
1st – Prezedent & Chicken George with Paul Dawkins @ Memories By The Score, Heartlands Club, Birmingham, UK
2nd – Lloyd Brown @ Deighton Centre, with Mike Anthony & Kofi, Huddersfield, UK
- Nereus Joseph & Prezedent @ African Language School Fundraiser, Spotty Dog Football Club, Forest Gate, Upton Lane, London, England
- Bongo Chilli with Celt Islam @ N.A.B., Birmingham, UK
4th – Chevelle Franklyn @ Oraclez Gospel Festival & Awards, Wembley Arena, London, UK
7th – Prezedent @ Lovers Rock Lounge with Carroll Thompson & Barry Boom
8th – Chevelle Franklyn @ Jesus House, Baltimore, USA
8th – 22nd Lloyd Brown US West Coat tour with Queen Omega
9th – Winston Reedy @ The Caribbean Centre, Leicester, UK
16th - Bongo Chilli with Celt Islam @ The Hop, Wakefield, UK
21st - Prezedent & DJ Ice @ Funky2, @ The Prince Albert, Wolverhampton, England
22nd – Bongo Chilli with the Root One Band @ The Plug, Sheffield, UK
24th – Babyboom @ Pier 1, Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Bongo Chilli with Celt Islam @ The Corporation, Sheffield, UK
June
4th – Prezedent @ Lovers Rock Lounge, Ruby Lo, London, England
17th – 28th Dennis Bovell in Italy with Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze
July
25th – Lloyd Brown @ Lovers Rock Gala, Brixton Academy
August
2nd – Lloyd Brown @ Reggae Rising Festival, California, US
14th – Winston Reedy with Dennis Alcapone @ The Chiemsee Festival, Germany
September
19th – Lloyd Brown, Dennis ‘Matumbi’ Bovell, Sylvia Tella, Winston Reedy & Prezedent @ The Giants Of Lovers Rock @ The O2 Indigo2, London, England
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