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ACTION PACKED

BUJU BANTON'S NEW VIDEO FOR "DRIVER A"

Ever since I got my hands on a pre-release copy of Buju Banton's latest album TOO BAD, I've been wearing out track #11, a hustler's saga known as "Driver A." The song is a straight-up masterpiece, silencing any doubters who questioned the DJ's relevance in 2007. After 16 years on dancehall's front lines, Buju remains "Action packed while some bwoy a pure lip."

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In the space of a two-minute fifty-one-second excursion on Sly & Robbie's "Unmetered Taxi" riddim, Buju lays out a cinematic scenario complete with fully realized characters and verite details that erase any trace of fantasy. Leaving no room for guesswork, the song's narrator outlines explicit instructions for his wheelman: where to go, how fast to drive, when to arrive, who is informer, even what he can and can't drink or smoke while dropping off this package of "Arizona." As the bossman explains, "All me life savings a ride pon this."

So please don't crack a smile when the big man tells his driver "A business man ah run, me no inna no 'but' nor 'because.' My gal wan' wear Victoria's Secret drawers." This is serious business, deadly serious. "No feel your brain big, no bother draw card. The last bwoy who try that dead like dog."

The same day Buju's FedEx package arrived at VIBE's offices, with "Driver" still ringing in my ears, I caught up with him for a phone interview, part of which went a little something like this:


I JUST RECEIVED YOUR ALBUM THIS MORNING SO I NEED TO VIBES IT SOME MORE, BUT I'M REALLY FEELING THAT SONG "DRIVER" WHERE YOU'RE GIVING THE MAN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW NOT TO GET CAUGHT.

Buju: [laughing] This one is a dancehall classic you know. Different from all the rest. Everybody’s putting out records and calling it dancehall while their trying to rap or trying to think like they’re Americans. I cannot do that. I am the original Buju Banton who set the pattern. I am the guy all these soundalikes pirate to big up themselves and make me look like I am not doing my job or I am not an artist of caliber. But listen to the work that I put out. This is the original dancehall vibe. If it doesn’t sound like this, it’s white-washed.

WHEN I HEAR YOU ON THE OLD "TAXI" RIDDIM I CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE.

Buju: Yeah, man! Riding it like a real champion do!

THAT'S IT. "DON'T EVEN HITCH," AS YOU WOULD SAY. BUT DANCEHALL HAS BECOME A VERY TRENDY THING THESE DAYS, HASN'T IT? EVERYBODY'S TRYING THEIR OWN "DANCEHALL STYLE" THING.

Buju: To me it’s so fucking monotonous. I can’t stand it. I want to hear real dancehall that I can play when I hit the I- 95 and just…you know what I mean? Just drive and hear some good music.

* * * *

Of course the tune soon took Jamaica by storm. Judging by the response in this dance, "Driver" is a true "Boomshot" in every sense of the word:

Although "Driver A" was not promoted as a single, it soon became a phenomenon of its own accord, spreading to distant shores and confounding naysayers who predicted "that tune nah have no visa." On the contrary, "Driver" proved once again that the global marketplace will embrace raw uncut dancehall when the tune is right.

As a matter of fact, just last Thursday, I heard DJ Cipha Sounds rinsing a "Driver A" dubplate (over Rich Boy's "Throw Some Ds" beat) on NYC's Hot 97FM during the rush hour mix show. In other words, the rawer the better.

After all, you can always clean up your act when it's time to shoot the video. Case in point, check these exclusive stills from Buju's new video:

That's Buju Banton as "The Boss" (If you can't tell by the suit, tie, and the red Ferrari). New York radio pioneer Jeff Sarge plays the starring role, "Driver A" (note the fuzzy dice on his vintage red Checker Marathon).


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"I wan' you carry this round the road fi me… And don't take no talk from nobody. Just do weh me tell you fi do, seen star? And make sure say everything work according to how man set the ting fi work, seen? Take back yourself and bring back yourself inna one piece. Make sure say you reach. Hear me! Lord a' mercy... DRIVER. Don't stop at all. Drop this Arizona round a Alba Mall. Driver. Don't even hitch. Collect dat little food deh and come back quick. Driver. Just remember the damn speed limit cause if you run in the Feds, my friend that is it." (TRANSLATION FOR THE PATOIS IMPAIRED: "Driver, please avoid unnecessary stoppages as you deliver this package of marijuana at Alba Mall. I cannot sufficiently emphasize the importance of your not stopping along the way. Collect the funds and make a hasty retreat. Driver be very wary of the Constabulary Force as they have set up quite a few speed traps along the path you have to travel.")

Now that we've straightened that out. Check out the official music video for Buju Banton's "Driver A," directed by Troy Antonio and brought to you by the good folks at Gargamel productions. CLICK RIGHT HERE TO VIEW

For years without tears and fears. www.boomshots.com

Posted on April 2, 2007 7:31 PM

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