Buju Banton and John Legend create magical ‘Memories’

May 08, 2020
Buju Banton
Buju Banton
John Legend
John Legend
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Closing 2019, reggae star Buju Banton celebrated the inking of a partnership deal with international entertainment group Roc Nation, founded by rapper Jay-Z.

The artiste is on the promotional pathway for his 2020 album, Upside Down, which will be released under Roc Nation, Island Records and Gargamel Music, with tracks like Steppa and Trust clearing the way for 18 more thought-provoking productions.

"It's based on the 2020 vision of things - segmented into social issues to love, from dancehall to world music; it is a Petri dish of sounds and musical offerings to satisfy all senses," Banton said to the guests at an exclusive album-listening session, held at Tuff Gong Recording Studios earlier this year, on February 29.

This week, the Wanna Be Loved performer teased the release of another track on Twitter, stating, "New from Upside Down, featuring a good friend". Then R&B singer John Legend retweeted: "I wonder who it is." Their posts led everyone speculating that it was a collaboration between the two artistes - and anyone who guessed that, was right.

Legend and Banton had collaborated on Can't Be My Lover in 2008, produced by Dwayne Chin-Quee, better known as 'Supa Dups'. It was featured as a bonus track for the release of the R&B singer's third studio album, Evolver, in Europe and Brazil.

Twelve years later, Legend, in Memories, sings over a reggae beat with instruments that give nuances of jazz and Latin music: "I guess I am not over you like I thought I was, guess I was fooling myself, cause I'm still in love ... still in love with you woman."

Producer Donovan Germain, who worked with Steven 'Lenky' Marsden on Memories, said there's a lot to interpret from the song which features two artistes who are both Grammy Award-winning talent.

"It is much more magical than the previous work; definitely, the growth of both artistes has contributed to the whole energy," Germain told THE WEEKEND STAR of the latest collaboration.

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