Buju Banton’s New Album Is Coming In April 2020

Dancehall legend Buju Banton is gearing up for the release of a new album in just two months. “Buju’s latest album is just about complete”, according to the artiste’s co-manager and longtime friend and mentor Donovan Germain.

In a recent interview with the Jamaica Gleaner, Germain said that the team is working towards an April 2020 release for the post-prison album which will be Banton’s 13th studio project.  “That is the timeline we are working with, barring any unforeseen changes,” he added.

Germain, who is also producer and CEO of Penthouse Records, also said that what remains to be done is all the legal paperwork and requirements that come with dealing with Buju’s new, major record label, Roc Nation. “Everybody has to sign off,” Germain explained.

Banton’s new partnership with Roc Nation, which was founded by American rapper Jay-Z, had been announced in November last year.

The album is not yet titled, but will reportedly have “something for everyone.” “It is an album that is geared towards the various parts of the audience that loves Buju … dancehall, lover’s rock, cultural aspect, etc. Because of the fact that Buju has been away for 10 years, we try and give each section of the audience a little something for themselves,” Germain said.

Work on the new album started in May 2019. In November 2019, Buju was spotted in studio with Unruly dancehall artiste Popcaan and fans were excited at the thought of a collaboration.

In between studio time and concerts since his release from prison, Buju Banton has released a string of singles including Steppa, Country For Sale, and Trust which went number one on Billboard’s Digital Reggae Sales chart. Most recently, in January 2020 the Gargamel was featured on DJ Khaled’s Bad Boys For Life Soundtrack with Murda She Wrote.

Before spending seven years in prison, Buju released 12 studio albums. His last album Before The Dawn was released 10 years ago and won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2011.