Ultimate Collection

In the early 1990s, teenager Buju Banton achieved notoriety in Jamaica's raucous dancehall scene with a series of controversial songs. But as he matured, he dropped the "guns and girls" lyrics of his youth in favor of songs that reflected his growing interest in social and spiritual matters. Ultimate Collection gathers 18 of Banton's more socially conscious songs including "Murderer," a powerful cry of rage directed at the killer of one of his friends, and "How the World a Run," a theological dissertation set to an irresistible dancehall riddim. Banton has a remarkably wide musical range, and selections such as "No Respect," which features a sonically complex digital production, "Untold Stories," an introspective song backed by a simply strummed acoustic guitar, and "Hills and Valleys," with its old-style roots feel, demonstrate his mastery of most of reggae's musical offshoots. Banton's music is a throwback to the days of Bob Marley, a time when the most positive messages were set to the strongest beat, and the best songs touched your heart and mind even as they made you get up and dance. --Michael Simmons