Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

Buju Banton - file

Just when persons thought that Buju Banton's reign had finally come to an end, the 'gargamel' has bounced back to rock the nation with one of the biggest songs of all times.

The sound of Buju's voice singing, Driver, don't stop at all is all one needs to hear coming from the speakers and immediately, the dance, club, party or session takes on a completely different atmosphere.

Comedic entertainer and host of Asylum's 'After Work Jam' on a Friday night, Ity, describes Buju's latest single, Driver as 'di baddis ting.

However this was not always the case. Ity says he can recall the first time he played the song inside Asylum nightclub. The response was not too encouraging.

"Di first time mi play it di people dem stan up an fold up dem arm, an mi seh 'uno betta get use to dis cause it a guh run di place', an play out di whole tune jus fi spite dem. An mi neva play di next week, but yuh si when mi draw fi di tune di odda week, di place get mad," Ity recalled.

Ity believes, "Di last time a tune have a impact like dat was Sizzla's Dry Cry. Yuh can't even seh Dutty Wine cause a nuh everybody love it, a mostly fi di woman dem dat. Welcome To Jamrock had an impact, Dutty Wine had an impact, but da song yah different, right yah now, mi know if mi drive guh Half-Way Tree mi hear di tune a play inna one taxi.

"Buju a di original gargamel weh did have di respect from di hardcore fans dem. Him did have di place lock from '91, '92, di pre-Beenie and Bounty era, suh dis is like a big comeback weh everybody did a long for."

Even the gargamel himself, Buju Banton said that he had not expect the song to become such a big hit. In this brief Q and A with The Star, Buju expresses his feelings about being in the 'Driver'seat.

Star: Did you anticipate that the song would take off so big?

Buju: No I didn't, but the surprise is welcome.

Star: What inspired you to write such a song?

Buju: Music, life and life is the greatest inspiration, so it is inspired by life.

Star: Some people have criticised it, saying it advocates the use of drugs. How would you respond to that?

Buju: People always criticise Buju Banton because most of their souls intend to see me silent.

Star: How has the song been doing on the international stage?

Buju: Pretty well received.

Star: Have they been responding to other songs on the album in the same way?

Buju: Yes, certainly. Don and Dupes with Pinchers has been well received, Better Days Coming, Your Night Tonight, Try Offa Yuh and of course Nothing and Fast Lane.

Star: When will your album be released in Jamaica?

Buju: In December. We have enlisted Penthouse to handle the distribution locally.

Star: How has the album sales been going?

Buju: Sales have been very good. The album has remained in the top 10 of Billboard magazine's reggae album chart since its U.S. release on September 12.

Star: Persons were saying that you couldn't re-emerge as strong as you were in the '90s. what are your thoughts on that and was it your intention, to re assert yourself?

Buju: I do not watch the noise of the market. I focus on the music. Gargamel Music, Inc. recently released the North American version of Buju's new album Too Bad in stores and online.

The album, which is the first full-length project from Banton's Gargamel Music label, sees Buju returning to his roots delivering his first pure dancehall collection since the days of Mr. Mention (1992) and Voice of Jamaica (1993).