Buju Banton guilty on 3 cocaine charges

Jamaica's reggae superstar Buju Banton, real name Mark Myrie, has been found guilty of three cocaine related charges. 

A 12 member jury a short while ago delivered the verdict in the Sam M Gibbons building in Tampa which houses the United States Middle District Court, Florida Division.  

Buju was found guilty on conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.

He was found not guilty for attempting to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine.

He was found guilty for aiding and abetting others in using a communication facility in the commission of a felony.

He was also found guilty for knowingly and intentionally possessing a firearm in furtherance of and during the course of a drug-trafficking crime.

Buju was tried last week on four charges.

Buju throughout the maintained he is innocent of the charges saying he play no part in any conspiracy to possess cocaine.

In denying the claims against him, Buju, though his attorney David Oscar Markus, argued that the artiste never became a willing participant of the cocaine conspiracy charged in the superseding indictment.

The defence said tasting the cocaine, talking about cocaine and simply being present at the warehouse is not sufficient to find Buju guilty of the crimes charged.

This trial, which began on February 14, was the second attempt of the US government to convict the Jamaican artiste. A first trial last year was declared a mistrial after jurors failed to arrive at a unanimous position.
Buju was arrested on December 10, 2009.

His long-time friend Ian Thomas and a James Mack were arrested the same day when they attempted to buy cocaine from undercover detectives in a Florida warehouse. Thomas and Mack pleaded guilty but Buju denied the charges. He said he decided to fight in federal court because he knows he is innocent.

Source: www.jamaicagleaner.com

The Many Faces of Kartel

THE STAR has been Jamaica's leading entertainment newspaper for 59 years, and so, over the years, we have built up an impressive collection of photographs of some of our favourite entertainers.

You name them, we have them. So in our latest feature, we will be digging deep into our archives to show you some of the oldest pictures of these artistes. After showcasing pictures of entertainers Sizzla Kalonji, ZJ Liquid, Lady Saw and Beenie Man, this week, we look at deejay Vybz Kartel.

Real name Adidja Palmer, Kartel is one of the more popular and controversial figures in the dancehall at the moment. Hailing from Portmore, the deejay is the head of the Portmore Empire, owns his own record label, rum and brand of condoms.

He got his start in music under the wings of veteran deejay Bounty Killer in his Alliance group, before leaving in 2006. The two have not reconciled their differences since the split.

Known for slangs such as 'Ahoe', 'Timeless' and 'Oh', Kartel started the popular 'Gaza' movement across Jamaica. He has had songs such as Clarks, which reached International success when it was aired on Canada's 'So You Think You Can Dance, High Altitude, Life Sweet, Money Fi Spend, Million By A Mawning, Trailer Load of Money, Tek, Bicycle and Rampin Shop which hit the Billboard Charts.

He has also made headlines with his own controversial lyrics and comments, his one-time feud with singjay Mavado, and his many encounters with the police.

Source: www.jamaica-star.com

Buju to have 1st show in over a year

Deejay Buju Banton will be hitting the stage for the first time in over a year on Sunday, January 16, at the Bayfront Park Amphitheater in Miami.

According to a release sent from Gargamel Music Inc, the artiste is confirmed to perform at the 'Before the Dawn Concert', which was named after his last album which was released while he was still behind bars.

Banton, real name Mark Myrie, is currently out on US$250,000 (J$21.5m) bail and awaiting retrial in February. Produced by Rocker's Island Entertainment, the 'Buju Banton & Friends Before The Dawn Concert' will also feature performances by: Stephen Marley, Wayne Wonder, Sly & Robbie, Gramps Morgan, Shaggy and Freddie McGregor, with even more names to be announced in the next few weeks.

In the release, Banton was quoted as saying: "The concept is to reunite with the fans and thank them personally for the tremendous level of support they have shown to me during these turbulent times. I look forward to touching the stage once more and coming together with the masses in a spirit of togetherness, harmony, unification and solidarity."

Banton also received his fifth Grammy nomination in the Best Reggae Album category for his prophetic new project, Before The Dawn. Recorded mostly at his own Gargamel Music studio in Kingston, the album boasts some of the most powerful songs written by Banton since his professional entry into the music business over 20 years ago.

Banton was previously acknowledged by the Recording Academy for his albums Rasta Got Soul, Too Bad, Friends for Life and Inna Heights.

Source: www.jamaica-star.com