INGSTON, Jamaica— Buju Banton is back in the United States of America.
International record producer DJ Khaled went live on Instagram a short while ago to introduce his “brother” who is in Miami, Florida for the first time since his arrest in the state almost 15 years ago.
“This is legendary! I haven’t seen my brother and I don’t think you have seen my brother and it’s been about 15 years since you have seen him in Miami or what we call the United States. And I just want to say yow Buju Banton welcome back to your second home,” DJ Khaled said in his introduction of Buju Banton before panning the camera to show the Reggae legend.
In response Buju Banton said, “God is amazing my brother, I wanna say nuff love to all the people out there. This is Buju Banton, I want to say nuff love to you all, all my fans out there in all the states in the United States of America, Gargamel is back.”
He continued: “It’s been a long time I haven’t seen you, it’s been a long time my feet have walked on this side. Nothing before the time and now is the time so let’s get the music going, let’s get the vibe going, let’s pick up ourselves, and let’s remember who we are and let’s get lively.”
Buju Banton, real name Mark Myrie, was arrested in Florida in 2009 on charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and was released in December 2018 from the McRae Correctional Facility in Georgia.
He was deported back to Jamaica where he received a warm welcome from thousands of fans at the National Stadium during his Long Walk to Freedom concert held in March 2019.
Legal experts had posited that since Myrie was deported from the United States he would only be welcomed back on a temporary work visa, but not a visitor’s or non-immigrant one.
It is unclear if Buju Banton will be performing in Miami soon.