Friends for Life

Buju Banton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 11, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vp Records
• ASIN: B00008DCS8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,379 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With the release of Friends For Life, Buju Banton’s well-publicized switch from popular dancehall thug to the enlightened "Voice of Jamaica" is now a decade old. Just into his 30s, Banton continues on with the positive tip as he rails against guns ("Mr. Nine"), advocates safe sex ("Get It On"), and exhorts people to be stand up for their rights ("Up Ye Mighty Race"). Of course the rascal still loves the ladies,and there’re several songs that toast the fairer sex here. The band sounds great throughout – reggae legend Sly Dunbar plays drums on several tracks -- and it’s this live unit that truly diversifies Banton’s dancehall sound, generally taking the music places it needs to go for the singer’s universal message to be an effective one. From the bouncy cover of Peter Tosh’s "Mama Africa" to the ominous dancehall groove of "Paid Not Played," Friends For Life proves that Banton is at the top of his increasingly well-rounded game. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Friends for life, April 22, 2003

By 

Jason E (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Friends for Life (Audio CD)

Well this one was very difficult for me to rate, If I compare it to his greatest works, I would have to rate it a 3. If I look at the album as a fan of Buju, I have to give it a 5 because outside of Bob Marley he has done something with Reggae music that no cross-over Reggae artist can do. He inspires people, while creating dancehall tunes for people to enjoy. However, it is nice hearing Buju along with Bounty Killer, his long time partner in crime Beresford Hammond, and Marcus Garvey's speach followed by "Up Ye Mighty Race." Yet the one thing that hits me is the fact that Buju has realized that he has dancehall fans, roots rock reggae fan, and somewhat crossover fans, and he attempts to create space for each of these listeners on "Friends For Life."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars de trut, April 14, 2004

By 

The Djeli (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Friends for Life (Audio CD)

De glory a de African thru reggae no stop wit Marley
Tanx to de one called Buju Banton
Nuff respect and praises fi go to he
A Buju a spread de trut to de world
Friends For Life a de testament a dis ting
Big up all conscious artist
Wit out dem us lost like Hebrews ina wildaness
Blessings

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Garamel's BACK!, March 14, 2003

By 

S. Mann (NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Friends for Life (Audio CD)

The career path of Mr. Banton has seen him go from the controversial deejay who raised eyebrows with "Boom Bye Bye", to the reggae icon following the amazing "Til Shiloh". "Inna Heights" further broadened his popularity, and his diversity. With "Unchained Spirit", Buju experimented with a more universal sound. That album was met well by critics, but baffled many as Buju futher distanced himself from the sound which made him popular in the early nineties. After three years, Buju is back with a new studio album "Friends for Life". The result is astounding. Dancehall tracks such as "Paid not Played", "Damn", "Teaser" (with Bounty Killer), "Spectacular" and "Tra La La" (on the Diwali riddim, which is the slickest riddim in years)will please those who have followed Buju from the "Mr. Metion" and "Voice of Jamaica" days. It is ambitious for an artist to cover Peter Tosh's "Mama Africa" but Gargamel does it justice. On "Up Ye Might Race" and "Mr. Nine" Buju approaches the same level of fire and consciousness of "Til Shiloh". Fan's of "Unchained Spirit" in which Buju served more as a singjay than deejay will enjoy "Pensive Mood", "All Will Be Fine", and "Maybe we Are". For the lovers, there are the R&B flavored "Get it on", with longtime collaborator Wayne Wonder, and "Good Times", with the always endearing Beres Hammond and rapper Fat Joe. Perhaps the highlight of the album is "Feeling Grovy" which has Buju deejaying over one of Don Drummond's early ska hits. What makes "Friends for Life" so special, is how Buju effectively broadens his appeal. Many of the tracks have a slight hip-hop feel to them, however this is no crossover album, like some of the work put out recently by Beenie Man and Sean Paul. As Buju has matured as an artist, he seems more comfortable with his sound, which enables him to deliver variety without abandoning his moniker as the "Voice of Jamaica". Buju Banton, and the many producers who worked on the album, have done an excellent job of selecting the right tracks from Buju's arsenal. He may never replicate "Til Shiloh", which is a compliment, not a criticism, but on "Friends for Life" he shows that there's still plenty left in the tank.