Burro Banton
Encyclopedia
Burro Banton is a dancehall
reggae
deejay
popular in the mid-1980s and 1990s.
He is most famous for his anthem "Boom Wah Dis", which was recorded on the Steely & Clevie
riddim
called "Street Sweeper".
Burro emerged during the mid-1980s at the beginning of the digital dancehall craze started by King Jammy
that also featured artists like Cutty Ranks
. He is known for his very aggressive style; deep, gruff voice; and was the inspiration for many modern dancehall artists like Buju Banton
, Bounty Killer
, and Elephant Man.
, Dillinger
, Trinity
, U Brown
, and Ranking Trevor. It was around 1978 he first worked with the sound system called Black Hoover, later moving to the Roots Unlimited sound system where he worked alongside Josey Wales
. He finally established his public reputation and career in 1982 as a DJ for the Gemini sound system and continued in their employment for a further two years. Through the middle and late-1980s, his skills as a DJ enabled him to work for Volcano, Stero Mars and the Kilamanjaro sound system, where he was featured with Super Cat
and Nicodemus.
Banton's first recording was with the legendary producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes, owner of the Volcano sound-system. Banton released his first LP, Buro, in 1983. In 1984 he toured Canada with John Wayne and began to nurture the career of his protégé, Little Burro.
As the 1990s approached, Burro Banton continued working with Super Cat
and Nicodemus
. Super Cat formed the "Wild Apache" label, where Burro recorded his first recording of a #1 hit, "Boom Wah Dis." When Super Cat signed with Columbia
/SME Records
, Burro Banton joined forces with the ace producer Bobby Konders and the Massive B label in 1991. Here, Burro Banton recorded numerous #1 hits including "Washington Session", "Tek a Set", "Westmoreland Sensi", and many more.
Massive B released Burro's second LP, The Original Banton in 1995. Burro continued recording with Massive B until 1998 and during this period worked with Steely and Clevie, one of Jamaica's most respected production teams, for whom he reworked his earlier hit "Boom Wah Dis" on their "Street Sweeper" riddim, scoring another #1 hit from Kingston, Jamaica, to New York to Miami and beyond. It was in heavy rotation around the world for many months in reggae and Caribbean-music circles.
trade. His latest efforts on Massive B's Rock, Penicillin, and Tempo riddims features a #1 European single called "Jah Jah Rules".
Burro Banton has been touring constantly over the last ten years across Asia, Europe, and throughout North America. He has shared the stage with Capleton
and Bounty Killer
, just to name a few and stands out in his performances due to his originality.
Burro Banton continues to record commercially successful and critically acclaimed music, including his recent hit song Badder Dan Dem, which is featured on the dedicated Massive B radio station in the videogame Grand Theft Auto IV
.
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
deejay
Deejay
A deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with disc jockeys from other music genres like hip-hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
popular in the mid-1980s and 1990s.
He is most famous for his anthem "Boom Wah Dis", which was recorded on the Steely & Clevie
Steely & Clevie
Steely & Clevie, aka Wycliffe Johnson and Cleveland Browne, was a Jamaican dancehall reggae production duo. It worked with artists such as the Specials, Gregory Peck , Bounty Killer, Elephant Man and No Doubt....
riddim
Riddim
Riddim is the Jamaican Patois pronunciation of the English word "rhythm," but in dancehall/reggae parlance it refers to the instrumental accompaniment to a song. Thus, a dancehall song consists of the riddim plus the "voicing" sung by the deejay. The resulting song structure may be taken for...
called "Street Sweeper".
Burro emerged during the mid-1980s at the beginning of the digital dancehall craze started by King Jammy
King Jammy
Lloyd James , better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy, is a dub mixer and record producer. He began his musical career as a dub master at King Tubby's recording studio...
that also featured artists like Cutty Ranks
Cutty Ranks
Philip Thomas, , better known as Cutty Ranks is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist.-Biography:Thomas was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1965. He began his career as a reggae artist at the age of 14 with the Gemini sound system, before moving on to work with Tony Rebel's Rebel Tone and Papa Roots,...
. He is known for his very aggressive style; deep, gruff voice; and was the inspiration for many modern dancehall artists like Buju Banton
Buju Banton
Buju Banton is a Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae musician.Banton has recorded pop and dance songs, as well as songs dealing with sociopolitical topics....
, Bounty Killer
Bounty Killer
Bounty Killer is a Grammy nominated Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. He is the founder of a dancehall collective known as The Alliance.-Early life and career:...
, and Elephant Man.
Biography
Banton's career began in 1976 when he entered a talent contest at the Skateland discothèque in Kingston. His early influences included Ranking JoeRanking Joe
Ranking Joe aka Little Joe is a reggae deejay who rose to prominence in the 1970s and had continuing success in the 1980s.-Biography:...
, Dillinger
Dillinger (musician)
Dillinger is a reggae artist.-Biography:As a young man growing up in Kingston, Dillinger would hang around Dennis Alcapone's El Paso sound system...
, Trinity
Trinity (musician)
Trinity aka Junior Brammer is a reggae deejay and producer, whose career began in the mid-1970s and continued into the 1990s.-Biography:Born in 1954, Brammer was educated at the Alpha Boys School...
, U Brown
U Brown
U Brown aka New Roy, Hugh Brown, Nuroy is a reggae deejay who released eleven albums between 1976 and 1984.-Biography:...
, and Ranking Trevor. It was around 1978 he first worked with the sound system called Black Hoover, later moving to the Roots Unlimited sound system where he worked alongside Josey Wales
Josey Wales
Josey Wales, born Joseph Winston Sterling in St. Mary, Jamaica is an influential Jamaican dancehall deejay. He was considered, along with Brigadier Jerry, Yellowman and sound system partner Charlie Chaplin, one of the best deejays of the 1980s....
. He finally established his public reputation and career in 1982 as a DJ for the Gemini sound system and continued in their employment for a further two years. Through the middle and late-1980s, his skills as a DJ enabled him to work for Volcano, Stero Mars and the Kilamanjaro sound system, where he was featured with Super Cat
Super Cat
Super Cat is a deejay most popular during the late 1980s and early 1990s dancehall movement. Super Cat was born in Jamaica and was nicknamed Wild Apache. His nickname, the "Wild Apache" was given to him by his mentor Early B...
and Nicodemus.
Banton's first recording was with the legendary producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes, owner of the Volcano sound-system. Banton released his first LP, Buro, in 1983. In 1984 he toured Canada with John Wayne and began to nurture the career of his protégé, Little Burro.
As the 1990s approached, Burro Banton continued working with Super Cat
Super Cat
Super Cat is a deejay most popular during the late 1980s and early 1990s dancehall movement. Super Cat was born in Jamaica and was nicknamed Wild Apache. His nickname, the "Wild Apache" was given to him by his mentor Early B...
and Nicodemus
Nicodemus
Saint Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, who, according to the Gospel of John, showed favour to Jesus...
. Super Cat formed the "Wild Apache" label, where Burro recorded his first recording of a #1 hit, "Boom Wah Dis." When Super Cat signed with Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
/SME Records
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
, Burro Banton joined forces with the ace producer Bobby Konders and the Massive B label in 1991. Here, Burro Banton recorded numerous #1 hits including "Washington Session", "Tek a Set", "Westmoreland Sensi", and many more.
Massive B released Burro's second LP, The Original Banton in 1995. Burro continued recording with Massive B until 1998 and during this period worked with Steely and Clevie, one of Jamaica's most respected production teams, for whom he reworked his earlier hit "Boom Wah Dis" on their "Street Sweeper" riddim, scoring another #1 hit from Kingston, Jamaica, to New York to Miami and beyond. It was in heavy rotation around the world for many months in reggae and Caribbean-music circles.
2000 and Beyond
Extending his recording career with Massive B in 2000, his releases titled "Politicians" on the "Lickshot Rewind" riddim delves into hard time in the ghetto of Kingston and wishes the politicians would keep their promises of a better life. In addition, he released "Phenomenon 2" on the Dun Dem riddim, in which he praises the role played by people involved in the ganjaCannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
trade. His latest efforts on Massive B's Rock, Penicillin, and Tempo riddims features a #1 European single called "Jah Jah Rules".
Burro Banton has been touring constantly over the last ten years across Asia, Europe, and throughout North America. He has shared the stage with Capleton
Capleton
Capleton is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist. He is also referred to as King Shango, King David, The Fireman and The Prophet. His record label is called David House Productions...
and Bounty Killer
Bounty Killer
Bounty Killer is a Grammy nominated Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. He is the founder of a dancehall collective known as The Alliance.-Early life and career:...
, just to name a few and stands out in his performances due to his originality.
Burro Banton continues to record commercially successful and critically acclaimed music, including his recent hit song Badder Dan Dem, which is featured on the dedicated Massive B radio station in the videogame Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
.