And it couldn't happen to a better person.
Buju Banton will not be serving time at a comfortable federal prison. The rabidly anti-gay "murder music" superstar is being transferred from Florida and will begin serving his ten-year-sentence for drug conspiracy in a private county prison, reports the Jamaica Observer.
Banton will be taken to the Adams County Correctional Center in Natchez, Mississippi. Defence attorney David Oscar Markus, who represented the embattled artiste, in his drug trial, told the Sunday Observer that United States magistrate James Moody recommended that Banton serve his sentence at a facility in Florida, but a shortage of beds caused him to be transferred to the Mississippi-based prison.
His attorneys have also indicated that they are planning to appeal his sentence before a three-member panel of judges in an appellate court in Georgia.
Banton was sentenced to 10 years for his conviction for conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine. In addition to the conspiracy charge, Banton was also found guilty of another drug trafficking offense and a gun charge at the February trial in Florida.
Banton, 37, whose real name is Mark Myrie, argued unsuccessfully that he was entrapped. Despite audio and video of the singer arranging the cocaine deal and sampling the product—and recorded blaming his financial problems on gay activists— the reggae star maintains that he was "set up."
In recent years, gay activists have called attention to Banton's lyrics and other so-called "murder music" which incites violence against gays. Banton's recent North American and European tour dates have met with protests, demonstrations and cancellations.
In October 2009, San Francisco-based LGBT activists met with Banton and afterwards the reggae singer's anti-gay rhetoric appeared even more hardened: "This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs, 'There is no end to the war between me and faggot'."
OMG, please don't tell me Rod that this dude is going to be near me! I really don't like this cat at all! Keep Brotha Darkness away from me looking like a puff of smoke walking. He's so black he bleeds tar!
Your comments about skin complexion are unacceptable at R20. You're free to go elsewhere. -RM
Posted by: Brandon | 08 August 2011 at 13:51
I know that physical beauty isn't everything, but it's going to be hard for Buju to find a boyfriend in jail.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 08 August 2011 at 15:21
Wouldn't it be interesting to find out that Mr. Banton got 'turned-out' while in jail and liked it and then when released started recording songs advocating the beauty & pleasures of man-on-man love!
Well, I can dream can't I?
Posted by: Greg | 08 August 2011 at 16:05
I really hate negative comments about color. Buju is not ugly because he is dark, he is ugly because he is hateful,ignorant and greedy ...thats is all.
Posted by: nathans | 08 August 2011 at 18:17
Banton is simply an ugly human being, that is all!
Posted by: Account Deleted | 09 August 2011 at 07:48
Yeah, it kind of bothered me that my comment appeared right after Brandon's. No, I'm not talking about Buju's skin color. There are magnificently beautiful dark skinned Black men. I've never gotten over my obsession with Blair Underwood. And I still dream about Walter Payton (naughty dreams--Sweetness had the buns of life!).
One of my greatest crushes on a celebrity in the 1980s was on Howard Rollins Jr (who we all suspected was Gay....and my best friend said to me, "...but Derrick, even if he is Gay he wouldn't want a queen like you").
No, skin color has never stopped me from recognizing masculine beauty--going back to Paul Robeson, Jackie Robinson, James Edwards, Brock Peters and of course, Poitier.
So, when I call Buju ugly it has nothing to do with his color. Black or yella' Buju is plain ugly. Look at those marijuana burnt lips....child, please.
And aint nobody as cute as young Anthony Mackie. I wish he could be my "Brother to Brother" .
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 09 August 2011 at 09:41
I thought the character Kyle (he was dark-skinned) from a Living Single was cute and I liked the fact he was kind of hairy but I digress, dark skinned or not, he's a pathetic excuse for a human being and no doubt plenty of imbecilic Christians admire him for his stance on the batty bois.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 09 August 2011 at 13:24
Referring to Buju Banton.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 09 August 2011 at 13:25
I just have to laugh at all these comments. Why is his color or his looks an issue. I think you all need to know what ugly is and none of you seem to know. I am pretty sure none of you will wi any contest.
You all need to bet over yourselves! Let go and get a damn life.
Posted by: Monique | 09 August 2011 at 16:59
I just hope him and Bubba's gang get real friendly...Just my two cents!Cause once the lights are off there aint no ugly!
Posted by: Charles | 09 August 2011 at 17:38
Monique:
Many comments, including mine and the blog creator, already addressed the comment at hand, so what's with the tirade? Let go and get a damn life is exactly what you should do. This is Buju Banton we're talking about, after all. I'm pretty sure he'll never win a contest either except for his deluded, Christian female fanbase.
Have you commented on anything else that isn't relating to this scumbag?
Posted by: Account Deleted | 09 August 2011 at 17:59
No, Monique,
I wouldn't win any contest now...well, maybe for the over 50 crowd. But, dear, I would've won contest 30 years ago...male or drag.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 11 August 2011 at 08:01
karma is real
dem bama "batty" boys await...
yee haw!!!
http://aliciabanks.xanga.com/733350064/homohatred-in-reggae-music---where-is-the-one-love/
Posted by: alicia banks | 13 August 2011 at 19:54