Buju Banton hails ‘The Recoup’ for nostalgic ‘90s dancehall journey

Buju Banton, a luminary figure in the illustrious tapestry of Jamaica’s vibrant music scene, whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the island’s cultural landscape, has lauded the recent release of The Recoup ‘riddim’ by producer Kemar McGregor as a nostalgic journey back to the beloved ‘90s dancehall era.

With several renowned artistes contributing to the project, the compilation exudes the essence of a musical period highly revered for its creativity and influence.

In an interview with The Gleaner, Buju Banton, who contributed the track Slogan to the project, expressed his enthusiasm for voicing on The Recoup, emphasising his deep-rooted connection to the original dancehall beats and rhythms that shaped his musical journey.

Reflecting on the production prowess of a few pioneers, Banton highlighted the timeless appeal of their tracks and the opportunity to reintroduce this era to a new generation.

“I am a student of music and I honed my skills on original dancehall beats. Pioneers like Dave and Tony Kelly, Steely and Cleevie, Bobby Digital, King Jammy and Donovan Germaine produced timeless tracks that still lock down a dance today, so reintroducing that era to a new generation made sense to me,” he said.

Banton noted that akin to many tunes from the ‘90s, the songs featured on The Recoup possess the potential for crossover success, emphasising that “good music has no boundaries”.

n discussing his involvement, Banton expressed his desire to utilise the ‘riddim’ as a platform to address pressing issues, including the current state of the country.

Buju, given name Mark Myrie, elaborated that for a deeper understanding of the themes that inspired him during the recording process, listeners are encouraged to tune in to the track. Additionally, he expressed satisfaction with the initial reception, noting the positive feedback garnered from audiences since its release.

“I man will always be I man. True to the music, true to my craft and true to myself and so the response to the song so far has been very good, it’s getting good airplay and the feedback is positive,” he said.

He added that McGregor’s project has the potential to reignite some of the magic from the ‘90s, an era highly regarded as the most prolific in Jamaica’s music landscape.

“I think we need an infusion of the era that made dancehall, dancehall,” he said. “You can’t go wrong with authenticity because good music is always in demand. The music and the messages transcend time.”

The release of this project couldn’t have come at a better time, Banton remarked, “It serves as a beacon, guiding today’s emerging talents back to the roots of our musical tradition.”

Banton encouraged aspiring artistes to heed the lessons of the past as they chart their course in the ever-evolving landscape of entertainment. “To navigate the complexities of this industry, one must first understand its origins,” he advised, his words carrying the weight of experience.

Banton posed a rhetorical question that resonated with profound truth. “How will you know where you’re going if you never pay attention to where you’re coming from?” he mused.