HOW TO THINK ABOUT IT
Famous, or infamous. Although not widely known outside Jamaica, Banton (born Mark Myrie) has been making musical waves on the Caribbean island since the 1990s. Surpassing even Bob Marley for most number-one singles in Jamaica, he also snagged a best reggae album Grammy in 2011 for Before the Dawn. That same month, he was found guilty of possessing and intending to distribute cocaine in Florida, though a judge tossed out a charge of illegal firearm possession that would have significantly extended his 10-year sentence. Just under eight years later, he was released and returned to Jamaica. For fans, those years represent prime music-making time that Banton won’t be able to get back. But now, after that long silence, a new album is reportedly on the way. Banton posted photos of himself recording on Instagram in recent weeks, promising fans they’ll soon hear new tracks.
Checkered past. Banton’s also faced controversy over Boom Bye Bye, a song he reportedly wrote as a teenager and released in the 1990s, which advocates murdering gay people. The song dogged his career long after that, with LGBT rights groups protesting and dozens of concerts canceled over the controversy before Banton went to prison in 2011. Boom Bye Bye was not played at this past weekend’s concert.
A triumphant return. Since his arrival in Jamaica, local officials have apparently been conflicted about how to treat the wayward legend. Culture Minister Olivia Grange suggested people “should embrace” his purported efforts to help youngsters stay on the straight and narrow, while national security chief Horace Chang reportedly conceded, “We can’t give him a hero’s welcome.” Banton’s use of “Long Walk to Freedom” and the implied connection to Mandela has also rubbed some critics the wrong way.
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