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Buju Banton won a Grammy Award last night for the best reggae album of 2011, but he faces a more important contest later this year when he goes on retrial for cocaine possession.
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Jury selection begins today in Tampa, Fla., for the trial that could send the reggae star to prison for the rest of his life.
For at least one night, though, Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, enjoyed the spotlight his great talent has brought him.
His album 'Before the Dawn,' recorded in 2009 before his December arrest, won a Grammy for best reggae album of the year.
Last September, Banton's cocaine-distribution and weapons-possession trial was declared a mistrial, when the jury could not reach a verdict.
The decision was widely viewed as a victory for Banton, who said he was framed and offered a rather flimsy excuse during the trial for why he was involved in discussions with alleged coke suppliers.
Banton told the court he believed that dealing with coke peddlers would raise his profile with important record industry moguls.
What?
In addition, Banton, 37, was caught on government video touching and tasting a bit of the white stuff before the deal went down.
Clearly, Banton is left with a lot of explaining to do and could very well have his name turn into a long series of numbers soon.
Banton was released from prison and placed under house arrest, after signing an extradition waiver and agreeing to wear a monitoring device so he couldn't leave the United States before the retrial.
Whether his excuse makes any sense is beside the matter. The world doesn't need to see another young black man in prison on questionable charges, especially one as hugely talented and able to reach young people as Banton.
I trust this serious brush with the law will set him straight. If there are any more chats with police officers disguised as coke dealers, Banton should have to do his long sentence without delay.
But at this point, he deserves another chance.
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Source: http://www.bvblackspin.com/2011/02/14/jury-selection-set-for-grammy-winner-buju-banton/
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