The moment has finally arrived! GRAMMYĀ® winning, multipleĀ BillboardĀ chart-topping artist, and international reggae iconĀ BujuĀ BantonĀ unveils his anticipated new album,Ā Born For Greatness, today viaĀ Gargamel Music/ Roc Nation Records / Def Jam Recordings. ListenĀ HERE.Ā
This rich body of work continues his legacy as one of reggaeās most influential, impactful, and inimitable figures. Among many highlights, the single āBody Touching Bodyā [feat. Victoria MonĆ©t] highlights his uncanny ability to seamlessly merge not only sounds and vibes, but cultures as well. Buju charismatically flows over a fluid beat anchored by steel drums and wah-drenched guitar, while Victoria heats up the song with a hypnotic R&B hook, āI wanna lie with you. Bonnie and Clyde with you, so I never have to miss you.ā
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From the introspective acoustic guitar-driven opener āAgeless Timeā through a choral chant for liberation uplifted by horns on the finale āLet My People Go,ā the album moves with the momentum of a big-screen epic, dipping in valleys of emotion only to rise with peaks of joy and victory as evidenced by āWe Find A Wayā and āTrial By Fire.ā Buju locks into a bold back-and-forth with Stephen Marley on the standout āFeel A Way.ā
Buju paved the way for the album with the title track āBorn For Greatness.ā Receiving plugs from The Source and more, Reggaeville professed, āBorn For Greatness is a testament to his lyrical talent, an opus with 17 pieces,ā and Ebro in the Morning sat down with him for wide-ranging interview about the record. DANCEHALLMAG noted, āBorn For Greatness consists of 17 tracks, featuring an eclectic mix of solo performances and notable collaborations.ā
As a prelude, he dropped the catchy dancehall anthem āCoconut Wata (Sip).ā Vibe wrote, āPowered by a breezy backdrop, the track finds Banton in a languid state, urging listeners to lay lifeās troubles to the wayside and enjoy the moment,ā going on to proclaim, āThe Grammy Award-winning Roc Nation artist continues to make a big splash in 2023.ā Rap Radar hailed it as āfreshā and noted, āthe Dancehall legend urges his followers to stay resilient during difficult times.ā
āCoconut Wata (Sip)ā arrived on the heels of the global banger āHigh Lifeā featuring Snoop Dogg. In addition to plugs from HYPEBEAST, TMZ, and more, REVOLT hailed it as āperfect for the stonersā holiday,ā and HotNewHipHop proclaimed, āHigh Lifeā is a perfect combination of their respective styles.ā Rap Radar attested, āthe Kingston-native and the O.G. from the L.B.C. spread good vibes with the finest herbs,ā and Rolling Stone summed it up best as āBumping.ā
Born For Greatness arrives as the full-length follow-up to 2020ās universally acclaimed Upside Down 2020, which garnered a GRAMMYĀ® nomination in the category of āBest Reggae Albumā and earned rave ā4-out-of-5 starā reviews on both sides of the pond from The Guardian and Rolling Stone, respectively.
Get ready to experience Born For Greatness!
TRACKLISTING
1. Ageless Time
2. Life Choices
3. Born For Greatness
4. Coconut Wata (Sip)
5. Yard and Outta Road
6. Body Touching Body (feat. Victoria MonƩt)
7. Turn Up Tonight
8. Sweeter
9. Feel A Way (feat. Stephen Marley)
10. Plans
11. Nuff Love For You
12. Walked Out
13. We Find A Way
14. My Microphone
15. High Life (feat. Snoop Dogg)
16. Trial By Fire
17. Let My People Go