Following last Friday’s release of Country For Sale by Grammy-winning reggae act Buju Banton, his first track since being released from a US prison where he served time for a drug trafficking conviction, the artiste and his team are already looking towards the release of an album within the next three months.
Within minutes of its release, Country For Sale shot to the top of the iTunes Reggae Chart where it dislodged the popular Toast by Koffee, and has been earning rave reviews from Buju Banton fans globally. It is this response and momentum that Buju Banton’s long-time producer and mentor Donovan Germain is looking forward to as they prepare to reintroduce the artiste to the market.
The producer said that a number of other songs have already been recorded as they prepare for an album.
“It was my decision to release this song at this time. He actually recorded about four and I chose this one because I believe it showcases Buju in the best way possible. We are trying to get the album ready for this year. Like I said he has recorded quite a bit of music and so we are looking at August/September for the album. This song is something that should keep us out there until that is ready, however we might just drop a deejay tune to satisfy that section of his fan base,” Germain shared.
He also disclosed that since the artiste’s release there are been a number of requests for collaborations with other local and international acts.
“We are currently looking into that as collaborations is really an important thing in the business these days. Given his long-standing relationship with Wayne Wonder and Beres Hammond there is a distinct possibility that those two could be the first artistes to share a track with Buju.”
Buju Banton’s Long Walk To Freedom tour then moves on to Guyana and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. That concert will be held at the Festival Village Grounds on June 15. It is then on to St Kitts for a performance as the headline act for the St Kitts Music Festival at the Kim Collins Athletic Club on June 29. Buju Banton will also headline Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay, on July 20.