Buju Banton born Mark Anthony Myrie entered the dancehall fraternity at the young age of 12. By the time he turned 13, Buju was perfecting his deejay delivery by working with a variety of sound systems including Rambo International and Sweet Love. Deejay Clement Irie introduced Buju to Robert French who produced his debut single "The Ruler" in 1986. Buju then went on to play a prominent role in reggae during the early 90-s with hits such as "Love Black Woman", "Batty Rider", and "Bogle".

Buju Banton now returns to his roots with his first unadulterated dancehall album in 10 years, "Too Bad". Buju took some time out of his hectic promotional tour to chat with Peppa Pot.

Peppa Pot: You started deejaying at a young age. What drew you in?

Buju: I was inspired by hearing the sound of reggae music. It was pulsating through my veins, vibrating on the very rooftop of my dwellings. I was amazed and intrigued by the lyrical content, flamboyance of the entertainers, dress code - so to speak, and lyrical delivery.

I was elated by the whole experience of hearing my friends in the morning talking about the leading sound system, deejays and dubs. This helped steer me towards the path of which I am apart.

Peppa Pot: How did it feel in the early 90-s when everything you touched was gold?

Buju: Whatever music I make must be a commentary which I find relevant or a commentary which I myself can associate my experience with. So therefore it was grand.

Peppa Pot: It-s often said you voiced the first "dance" tune. How does it feel to see the dancing trend coming full circle?

Buju: I don-t see myself as the first to ever voice a dance song. I see myself as one who helped prolong the life of this trend. Dance songs have been making long before my emergence on the music scene. When I was much younger there was this major hit song called "Stuck" by a great brother Early Black [Buju deejays] "Dance an go dung and Dance an go dung and Dance an go dung and Stuck." There was the one foot skank done by Flourgon [Buju deejays] "One foot skank, One foot Skank, Dance an go dung an...." So I see myself as carrying on the tradition.

Initially I-m from the old school. All of those names I just mentioned, those are people who I-ve grown up on. Those are people I revere as artists. Those Papa San, those Admiral Bailey, those Major Worries, those Shabba Ranks. Ya nah mean? Those are who I regard as hard core. Josie Wales have the real sh*t. So therefore for me to do a song like "Bogle" was just carrying on that historic tradition from that time to now. So I wasn-t the first.

Peppa Pot: Around 93 you made a transition to Rastafari.

Buju: I don-t think I made a transition. I think i-ve emerged as who I-m supposed to be in this time in this stage for my people to satisfy their soul musically, philosophically, spiritually and otherwise.

Peppa Pot: Welcome to Jamrock 2005; you displayed your versatility by performing some of your hits from early days to now .

Buju @ UCLA Jazz/Reggae Festival

Buju: Whenever it comes time to do a show in Jamaica it-s always challenging for me you know. Because my people dem - dem know that I-m a rebel, yet I-m a lover, yet I-m a man weh ..... deep ina miself. And them get the three personalities coming at them musically. Sometimes I don-t know which one to give to them. I don-t know which one they want tonight. So it-s always in my interest to create a balance of the three to deliver to the masses.

Peppa Pot: Fast forward to "Too Bad" Why come back with a dancehall album?

Buju: I-m a lover of the dancehall. Every year I find myself gravitating to the dancehall. I don-t see myself as moving away from music. I find myself blessed in such a way that I am able to deliver music from both sides. I can do reggae music and I can do dancehall music.

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I initially came to the scene by doing dancehall music. So now to go and find myself doing dancehall is nothing strange. I-ve been feeling this urge for quite some time now. People need to hear Buju hardcore. They-re used to me being that hardcore personality.

The time has come.

Peppa Pot: I see you released this album under Gargamel Music. What made you form your own label?

Buju: Destiny. Previously I was embedded with the oppressors. The urge and the need to be independent is not far fetched for any individual who holds himself in high regard as I do hold myself. To work for people all the days of your life is no less than being a man. You-re on your knees and a real man should never be on his knees.

I-ve never been able to see my value, to earn any great money, or to earn anything from my records sales while working for the major conglomerates. Working, investing, and spending money in myself gives me greater joy. If I sell one copy I am happy, if I sell two copies I-m even greater happy.

At the end of the day it shows the people that you can if only you put your mind to it. Lets come together and start trusting and believing in each other as a people and we can all make it to a greater level.

Peppa Pot: Do you feel that-s a route that more artists in Jamaica should take?

Buju: Not only Jamaica but [artists] in the global community. Listen if you-re not able to create a song as good as the one you made before no one is going to be interested in you. Why have friends who are going to be your friend while you have a hit song? I want someone who-s going to be my friend all the time.

Peppa Pot: Do you feel with this album you will receive the mainstream recognition in the States your deserve?

Buju: Music is my life. I don-t work for just the recognition in America. I-m known in Africa which is great to me because I-m a black man - first and foremost. If my people are able to recognize and identify with me I am happy. So happy I-m elated. The people of Europe who have embraced my music I love them also. My brethren and sistren from the Diaspora in America who took they-re culture with them I am happy for you also.