'He will age well in music'

The music landscape has evolved since international reggae artiste Mark 'Buju Banton' Myrie was first remanded by US federal agents in 2009.

Traditional reggae music has since birthed revival reggae artistes, spearheaded by leading voices like Protoje, Chronixx and Jesse Royal.

Global charts are now dominated by tropical house or island pop, arguably a crossover spin on dancehall music, courtesy of acts like Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Drake.

After serving a 10-year sentence on drug-related charges at the McRae Correctional Facility in Georgia, 51-year-old Myrie was recently released to this new world of music.

But how will he adjust?

Social media guru and journalist Dennis Brooks thinks the entertainer will adapt just fine.

"I think he will still have his original fan base, but he will also fit into the Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid, Protoje and Jah9s of the world," Brooks said. "Those singers, in many instances, have been able to thrive as they filled a vacancy that he created since being incarcerated. Buju is like the elder statesman in music so to speak, so he will just come and take his space."

While Myrie was not allowed to record music while serving time, he reportedly spent his days furthering his education, teaching inmates and penning lyrics. Brooks anticipates his new releases.

"He has done a great body of work and people are longing to see what he will come with," said Brooks. "We know he has been improving himself, and people want to see if this will lead to a more spiritual Buju. Will he come with another Til Shiloh? How much will his new work be reflective of his prison experience? People are excited and that alone will serve him well."

Til Shiloh (1995) is Myrie's fourth studio album and is also one of his most acclaimed works.

The 17-track set symbolises the beginning of a conscious turn for the artiste, due to his alignment with the Rastafarian faith.

Tracks include Wanna Be Loved, Til I'm Laid to Rest and Untold Stories.

Social media has also evolved since Myrie was convicted in 2011. The singjay has more than 300,000 followers on Instagram, one of the more popular applications used to promote music.

"There's already a great demand for live performances, so he will be spending much time on the road on tour. I don't think he will have issues getting into Europe. That may not be the same for the US, but he may not even need the US market. Generally, I think his brand is what will carry him forward, he will age well in music," Brooks said.