Grammy Award-Winning Reggae Icon Buju Banton Reunites With VP Records

Photos: VP Records|Wikimedia Commons

GRAMMY® Award-winning reggae icon Buju Banton has officially reunited with longtime partner VP Records, marking a full-circle moment that reconnects one of Jamaica’s most influential voices with the label that helped define a pivotal chapter of his career. Over two decades after releasing standout projects like Friends for Life (2003), which earned a GRAMMY® nomination and peaked in the Top 3 on Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart, Buju returns to familiar ground with renewed purpose, setting the tone for a bold new era.

“Buju has always been a defining voice in reggae, and his return to VP Records reinforces our shared commitment to continue inspiring our culture that resonates across the globe.” says Christopher Chin, CEO of VP Records. 

“I have been working with VP Records for over 30 years and I will say it again…They Get It,” says Buju Banton.

Under this renewed partnership, Buju makes his presence felt with the release of his brand new single, “Butterflies,” out now. The track serves as the first offering from his upcoming album, his first with VP Records since 2006, arriving Summer 2026. On making this forthcoming album Buju states he like to create “Music that touches the soul to a point where its constantly playing in your head, to me is like fresh air, you just wanna spread your wings and be a butterfly.” 

Listen HERE.

“Butterflies”, produced by internationally acclaimed hitmaker Supa Dups (Rihanna, Drake, Bruno Mars), delivers a vibrant, feel-good sound anchored in a rich, tropical instrumental with an infectious rhythm. Buju’s unmistakable cadence glides effortlessly across the track, blending classic dancehall energy with a modern sonic edge. The single exemplifies a confident return, one that bridges legacy with evolution while reintroducing the essence of dancehall to a new generation. A music video is set to premiere soon.

Taking that energy from the studio to the stage, Buju Banton will join forces with fellow GRAMMY® Award-winning reggae powerhouse Stephen Marley for the Roots And Rhymes U.S. Summer Tour 2026. This historic co-headlining run marks the first time the two icons will embark on a full-scale tour together, celebrating the richness of Jamaican culture, music, and global influence.

The tour kicks off on June 17 at Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA, making its way across major cities and iconic venues including Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO and Milwaukee Summerfest, before concluding on July 25 at Lakewood Amphitheatre in Atlanta, GA. Select dates will feature special guest Gramps Morgan of Morgan Heritage, with DJ sets from Splackavelli adding to the experience.

See more information and purchase tour tickets via​ Buju Banton’s website and Stephen Marley’s website.

The new single setting the tone, along with a major tour on the horizon, Buju Banton’s reunion with VP Records signals more than just a moment, it marks the beginning of a defining new chapter in reggae and dancehall.

Roots And Rhymes U.S. Summer Tour 2026

6/17     Redmond, WA           Marymoor Park

6/19     Costa Mesa, CA       OC Pac Amphitheatre

6/20     Oakland, CA              The Fox

6/24     Morrison, CO            Red Rocks

6/26    Dallas, TX                   Longhorn Backyard Amphitheater*

6/27    Huntsville, AL          Orion Amphitheatre*

6/28    Gautier, MS               The Sound Amphitheatre*

7/1     Detroit, MI                   The Fillmore (Detroit)*

7/2     Chicago, IL                  Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom*

7/3       Milwaukee, WI          Summerfest

7/5     Terre Haute, IN         The Mill Terre Haute*

7/7     Cincinnati, OH         Riverfront Live*

7/9     Boston, MA                Leader Bank Pavilion*

7/11    Bridgeport, CT        Hartford Healthcare Amphitheatre*

7/12    Bethel, NY                Bethel Woods*

7/15     Bristow, VA               Jiffy Lube Live

7/18     Elmont, NY               UBS Arena

7/19     Atlantic City, NJ      Hard Rock Live

7/22     Portsmouth, VA      Portsmouth Pavilion

7/23     Raleigh, NC              Red Hat

7/24     Charlotte, NC         The Amp Ballantyne

7/25     Atlanta, GA              Lakewood Amphitheatre

*with special guest Gramps Morgan

ABOUT BUJU BANTON
Buju Banton is unequivocally one of the world’s greatest dancehall/reggae artists. The man born in Salt Lane, Kingston as Mark Anthony Myrie, is also known to the world as living legend, Grammy winner, abolitionist and voice for oppressed people around the world. For over three decades, he dominated the reggae/dancehall sub-genre with iconic collaborations (Beres Hammond, Stephen Marley, Dave Kelly, Sly & Robbie, Bobby Digital, Steely & Cleevie, just to name a few), lyricism superior to his peers and a ministry committed to liberating the minds of oppressed people. The father of ten sons and eight daughters has taught the world true romance (“Who Say”), radical discernment (“Hills And Valleys”), perseverance (“Not An Easy Road”), and how to bogle (“Bogle”).

Buju was raised by two hardworking parents, the youngest sibling behind 16 daughters. His diligence, charm and charisma were passed down by his father, a factory worker. He inherited his entrepreneurial mind and passionate spirit from his mother, a market vendor with ancestry linked to the West African slave revolters, Maroons. Mama nicknamed her chubby baby after the Jamaican breadfruit Buju. Banton––representative of a fierce deejay––was later adopted by her son.

As a youth, Buju studied reggae greats such as Major Worries, Admiral Bailey, Shabba Ranks, Papa San and Lieutenant Stitchie. He often broke curfew to beg either older deejays for a couple minutes on the mic or security guards for entry into studios like Technique Records and Penthouse Recordings. The latter studio is where 16-year-old Buju recorded his first song, “The Ruler.” Recognized as a reggae prodigy, he was commissioned by DJ sets Rambo International, Sweet Love sound system (owned by Flourgon) to DJ for $100 a weekend. As young Banton’s hustle and connections grew, he linked up with a future great Capleton and began demanding up to $500 per dubplate.

The early nineties is when Buju exploded onto the scene, helping catapult dancehall into a global force. Buju’s first underground hit to cross over, “Stamina Daddy,” became the title track for his 1992 debut album (the LP was later repackaged and retitled Quick). Buju’s massive follow-up Mr. Mention, which wrought classics like “Batty Rider” and “Love Me Brownin’,” dropped the same year allowing the rookie sensation to break Bob Marley’s record for #1 hits.

The man also known as Gargamel spent the next two decades releasing sterling album after album––Voice of Jamaica (“A Little More Time,” “Deportees”) to the certified Gold’Til Shiloh (“Champion,” “It’s All Over,” “’Til I’m Laid To Rest”), before a succession of Grammy nominated projects preceded Before the Dawn, the 2011 Grammy winner for Best Reggae Album. A new chapter began for Buju in 2018, when after a seven-year hiatus, he appeared twice on megastar DJ Khaled’s album Father of Asahd.

On March 16, 2019, Buju began his “Long Walk To Freedom” tour and made worldwide history, filling Kingston’s National Stadium with over 30,000 of his most loyal fans from around the globe. The tour expanded the market for live reggae performances and paved the road for the new generation of artists. Banton then returned to the studio and gifted the world his twelfth and thirteenth albums Upside Down 2020 and Born For Greatness.

Having spent his previous two albums ministering fans across the globe through a Coronavirus pandemic and global imperialism, Buju dedicates his 14th studio album to his home. The commitment of his latest masterpiece is to re-introduce dancehall music to the new generation of reggae lovers.

The new dancehall album also ushers in a new era for Buju’s very own label, Gargamel Music. After decades of distribution partnerships with companies like Polygram, Mercury and Roc Nation, Buju is now completely independent. His philanthropic endeavors will only reap more blessings. His Buju Banton Foundation helps shelter over 120 Jamaican boys in foster care (ages 3-18). His 2019 “I Am A Jamaican” campaign raised funds for the 18-year-olds who age out of the system (Upon leaving foster care, each will receive stipends for housing and proper clothes to pursue employment.) The following year, Buju won a MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Award for Best Reggae Act. In 2025, his contribution to Bugle’s “Thank You Lord,” alongside Damian Marley, earned him a Caribbean Music Award for Reggae Collaboration of the Year.

Buju Banton is in the midst of a blessed revival. He is reinvested in the sovereignty of his music, brand and business. After becoming the first dancehall/reggae artist to sell out the UBS Arena in 2024, he is ready for global touring as well as a return to the continent of Africa. Wherever on God’s Earth the great Gargamel decides to carry his message, the mission will remain as sturdy as it stood in 1992: “Reggae music is to uplift, educate and eradicate negativity from the minds of the people globally,” says Banton. “I will never let that change.”

ABOUT VP RECORDS
VP Records is a global record label and distributor specializing in reggae, dancehall, and Caribbean music. A longstanding reggae label with roots in Kingston, Jamaica, the company was founded by Vincent Chin and Patricia Chin, whose Randy’s Record Mart and Studio 17 helped shape the early recording landscape of Jamaican music.

Following the family’s move to New York in the late 1970s, VP Records expanded its retail, distribution, and label operations, playing a central role in bringing Jamaican music to international audiences during the rise of dancehall and beyond. Today, as part of VP Music Group, the company spans recorded music, publishing, distribution, retail, and licensing, with operations across North America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

A cornerstone label in the global reach of reggae and dancehall, VP’s catalog bridges multiple eras of Caribbean music, including releases from Sean Paul, Shaggy, Beenie Man, Beres Hammond, and Spice, alongside a broad roster of contemporary artists. Its archive has expanded through the acquisition of Greensleeves Records and the launch of reissue imprint 17 North Parade, positioning the company among the largest holders of reggae and dancehall recordings worldwide.

Across more than four decades, VP Records continues to release new work while maintaining one of the genre’s most extensive catalogs.