I haven't been updating this blog for quite some time. Since I am a avid reggae fan,I couldn't leave my two cents out when it comes to Buju Banton. I can't believe that he got himself in such a precarious situation. And I hate that another black man is going to prison because of drugs.
Buju Banton has tried to maintain his innocence, but it was all to no avail. He was found guilty on almost all of the cocaine charges that he was facing. I agree with all of the reggae artists who have expressed the following sentiment. This is truly"the saddest day for reggae and dance-hall". Here's more on this story from The Huffington Post:
"Prosecutors acknowledge that Banton did not put any money into the drug deal, nor did he ever profit from it. Markus said his client is "a big talker" who admitted to trying to impress the confidential informant but wasn't involved in any drug deal.
Much of the case hinged on meetings and phone calls that were video- and audiotaped by the informant, who was working with the Drug Enforcement Administration – and who made $50,000 in commission after the bust.
In one video, Banton could be seen tasting cocaine in a Sarasota warehouse on Dec. 8, 2009 – but he was not present during the actual drug deal on Dec. 10 that led two others to be arrested. Those two men later pleaded guilty.
Banton testified that that the informant badgered him after they met on a trans-Atlantic flight in July 2009 and insisted that they meet to set up a cocaine purchase. He said he was so uninterested in the informant's proposals that after they met twice, Banton didn't return the man's phone calls for months.
In Banton's native Jamaica, radio stations played his songs nonstop Tuesday, especially "Untold Stories" and "Not an Easy Road."
Rapper Tony Rebel, a close friend who recorded with Banton, called it a sad day for young people who looked up to him.
The verdict marks "the saddest day for reggae and dancehall," rapper Michael "Power Man" Davy said, adding he was "sad as a Rastaman and a Jamaican."
Singer Junior Reid called it a conspiracy against reggae artists.
"With Buju gone, a big piece of reggae get chop off," he said."(END OF EXCERPT) Read more here.
