Buju Banton : Bob Marley Is Not The Greatest Musician

[Don1]

Thats the problem according to Buju, cause people stuck in the Bob Marley era, they're refusing to see other talented reggae acts, hence preventing them from reaching their destiny.

Young people (who consume the most music) are definitely not stuck in the Marley era... so that's a big cop out.

What keeps reggae artistes back is not Bob Marley.. it's their generally poor songwriting and maybe a less than professional approach to the business.
Bob's biggest strengths were his songwriting, his principles and charisma... one can't teach that... either you have the gift or you don't.

Also the time he came out is critical... the Cold War days of the 1970's when decolonization and class struggle were topical issues... he reflected those times like no one else.... today what is topical is punnany, gun talk and bling.

It's not even fair to compare Bob to any contemporary Jamaican musician... complete waste of time.

Maybe without Bob the current set would not even get airplay in many markets... they would be kinda like... soca?

[Islandman]

It seems to me like he is saying that too many of us take as given that "Bob is the greatest and there will never be anybody else good like Bob" and that is what he has a problem with.

[Jawge]

From yuh say this:
"hence preventing them from reaching their destiny." you are finished.

Quote: "I can do all things, through ......................"

[Assasin]

how so? Shabba, Sean Paul, Shaggy, Maxi Priest to name a few?

The fact is the body of work is there to be done.

Nobody nah hold back Buju. Our stars them have to step out and do them thing. One thing mi rate with Beenie, Sean Paul and few others them do them things.

Bob was also a businessman that did good business. You think that reflected in how got big, by been where he is suppose to be, negociating and getting that contract and representing himself.

You can't hate pon the legend cause man like that, Berres Hammond, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear had no time to idle but work hard. Now it is over to these artists.

[Assasin]

If Buju a promote him thing him just fi do that and leave out Legend.

The people shoulda ask him who a better musician than the legend.

We can only hope ihis work is quality like Tis Shiloh so it can be compared with the works of some of the greats.

[Lazie]

Just one guy's opinion... no big deal.

Every man has the right to decide his own destiny.

Thats the problem according to Buju, cause people stuck in the Bob Marley era, they're refusing to see other talented reggae acts, hence preventing them from reaching their destiny.

[Don1]

Don't make Don1 read this at all. Tek it down quick

Just one guy's opinion... no big deal.

Every man has the right to decide his own destiny.

[Jawge]

This is the problem with us in Ja and it
stems from our oevrall lacking in the education dept (which will be discussed in full in another thread).

Why is it in JA there is the tendency tear one person down in order build another? How many writers in the US tearing down Mark twain and saying ah better is coming, better yet how many English writers out there challlenging Shakespeare?.

Buju is speaking without gathering the facts: Bob rose to prominence near to the close of the vietnam war (where two empires were competing strongly, also there was a cultural revolution going on at the time i.e hipies et al) In Bob's time Rastafarians were oppressed and feared in JA.

Yes Bob's music was skillfully marketed but so can yours Buju. No one is stopping you from being the world's greatest. Did you know that because of the cold war Bob's music was sen as revolutionary? Did you know that Bob was given instruction from agency of the empire to stop sing? I would suggets that Buju read some books before making careless comments.

The times have change, hence it's now easier for reaggae artists to wear their locks and sing whatever. Tell them to live in the 70s (the height of the cold war period) and try it.

The irony is that he said all this at UWI and they clapped and cheered.

[Gamma]

if that is the case bob probably is not the greatest either...

look he is not the greatest SINGER or MUSICIAN as a song writer he certainly is in the elite but as a TOTAL package.....he is definitely our greatest product because of the music he ahs made.

[Gamma]

mi nuh undastan buju...You know they say that the greatest musician in Jamaica is Bob Marley. I don't believe that, because we have greater musicians to come.

if that is the case then he is tacitly agreeing that bob marley is the greatest musician...

it depends on the defintion of musician....as an artist....i am more inclined to think.

[Assasin]

mi nuh think him a talk bout playing music but using the voice as an instrument.

[Hortical]

Not even close, and within the Wailers, Tosh & Junior Murvin lead the way.

[Bricktop]

Mi jus a gwaan watch di ride. Di forum nah guh pretty tideh

[Assasin]

Don't make Don1 read this at all. Tek it down quick

[Bricktop]

BOB MARLEY IS NOT THE GREATEST MUSICIAN - BUJU
Monday, April 27, 2009

Recording artiste Buju Banton says that Bob Marley is not the greatest Jamaican musician and that this fixation on the reggae icon has hurt the growth of the music.

Banton respects Marley's music but argued that calling him the greatest logically implies that no better can follow.

"I want Jamaican music to be seen not through the pretext of some man that died 20 years ago, but as a pretext of a living being, working earnestly. If man cannot do what others have done in these times we might as well die," he told a mixed crowd at the launch of Rasta Got Soul, his new album, at the University of the West Indies on Thursday. "You know they say that the greatest musician in Jamaica is Bob Marley. I don't believe that, because we have greater musicians to come. Bob was the most promoted, and well promoted and we have to appreciate that because its our culture but don't kill our culture with one living one. Enough is Enough."

Currently Bob Marley's album Legend continues to top iTunes reggae charts in every major reggae market except Japan, even as Mavado, Banton and Jah Cure released new albums this month. Downloaders in 19 of the 22 listed countries are buying Marley's 1984 album above any other reggae album on iTunes, arguably the Internet's most popular online music store. These online sales will add to the album's sales which have surpassed 20 million. Comparatively, the average reggae album sells some 5,000 units worldwide.

Banton's comments received claps from the crowd. He then evidenced his point with reference to Marley's sons who receive the brunt of the comparisons. "Bob had nine sons, allow the youths to be who they are destined to be, because once you do that they automatically fade away. Don't line me up with anybody. Don't parallel me and then you find you kill I. I can learn from the great ones and can learn by the wheel, but I don't want to be that someone who you only see in that shadow," said Banton who had been compared to Marley with his 1995 release Til Shiloh.

That album had songs in the reggae folk tradition with Untold Stories being its classic hit. Even 14 years after the release it's frequently compared with Marley's Redemption Song. Til Shiloh had set the standard for subsequent Banton releases, but Banton has been torn between two lovers: dancehall and reggae. But on his new 15 track album both genres are included. Banton released Reggae Got Soul via his own record label Gargamel Music Inc, via a Tommy Boy distribution deal.