buju trial begin

[evanovitch]

Re: buju testify

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">He said he was fascinated with boats and was very surprised when he saw cocaine.
</div></div>

mi was hearing bout him yacht a yaad recently...mi was laffing wen a story was told to mi...like i said , some seh him neva a do weights but him was using him likkle finga nail

[blugiant]

Re: buju testify

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> [quote]to impress the informant, who he believed would introduce him to music industry contacts. : </div></div>

stapp eeth evan

yu knoo dat a latt aff dem artists inn da music industrees were finance by drug dealers dat y soo much bad ann negative music out deer.

[evanovitch]

Re: buju testify

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">[quote=evanovitch] <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">to impress the informant, who he believed would introduce him to music industry contacts. : </div></div>

stapp eeth evan

yu knoo dat a latt aff dem artists inn da music industrees were finance by drug dealers dat y soo much bad ann negative music out deer.

</div></div>

somehow mi no tink is di don show bakative him was reffaring to...is big time industry him a chat...mi hope dem ask wich label him get di dealer to seh him was close to ..a mean u muss have had an idea of a connection if u a claim dis now,...an di chick who fuss brought him to a label in the US was none of dat so y was he now tinking he needed a partime druggis/label front man...it no compute

reggae sales have tanked wen it come to big labels...none being developed so wich label dis guy intimated him was close to...

[blugiant]

Re: buju testify

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">[quote=evanovitch] <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">to impress the informant, who he believed would introduce him to music industry contacts. : </div></div>

stapp eeth evan

yu knoo dat a latt aff dem artists inn da music industrees were finance by drug dealers dat y soo much bad ann negative music out deer.

</div></div>

somehow mi no tink is di don show bakative him was reffaring to...is big time industry him a chat...mi hope dem ask wich label him get di dealer to seh him was close to ..a mean u muss have had an idea of a connection if u a claim dis now,...an di chick who fuss brought him to a label in the US was none of dat so y was he now tinking he needed a partime druggis/label front man...it no compute

reggae sales have tanked wen it come to big labels...none being developed so wich label dis guy intimated him was close to...

</div></div>

yu a chat label mii a chatt clubs. moas dem artist money iss parfarminn inn clubs.

da onlee reason y mii doan defend buju iss dat oww rasta widd soul a deal widd mzungu line

[evanovitch]

Re: buju testify

den u tawking outta di odda mout cause di man seh him tink di man was a contact fi di industry...mom n pop show is not industry...plus dese days is a handful a artiss can get visa n nuff tings was mekking him iffy as one who could get one...

mom an pop naw leggo no drug money fi show no more cause show a lose money...venue too expensive an insurance haffi buy di show cause u neva know who a go lose dem mind up in dere....

artiss a hold dem own show fi get show...

but bak to di argument..di man seh him did tink di man could gi him industry link...wich promoter out dere dont know of Buju...plus artiss no hyah management fi himself plus him label an den do di wuk himself...if dat is di case him could save bet 5-15% of him earnings

[blugiant]

Re: buju testify

After Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton had a conversation about drugs with a government informant he met on a plane, it triggered a series of meetings and phone calls about buying and selling cocaine, according to testimony from the informant and recordings played yesterday in Banton's federal drug trial.

Banton and the informant, Alexander Johnson, met on a plane from Spain to Miami at the end of Banton's European tour last summer.

Johnson testified that they began talking about drugs early in the flight.

&quot;He told me he was involved in the transportation of drugs from Venezuela to St Martin,&quot; Johnson said. &quot;His involvement was he moved money himself for traffickers out of England.&quot;

They exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet the next day in Fort Lauderdale.

Recordings of that July 27, 2009 meeting and other phone calls and conversations from July 2009 through December were played in court yesterday.

&quot;Do you have any contacts where I can get cocaine?&quot; Banton asked Johnson in one recorded conversation.

He told Johnson he wanted to give him money so he could buy and sell the drugs - but the singer did not want to be more involved.

&quot;All I do is finance,&quot; Buju said.

The four-time Grammy nominee is on trial in Tampa federal court on charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine and carrying a firearm during the course of a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting two co-defendants in possessing a firearm during the course of cocaine distribution.

Buju and Johnson discussed a variety of enterprises over several meetings in restaurants, such as selling drugs in Europe, having Banton finance a drug deal, buying drugs from Colombia and the Caribbean island of St Martin, using Johnson's boat to transport drugs, and giving Johnson a cut of a drug deal.

Banton's attorney, David Markus, says those conversations turned to drugs only after the men were drunk.

&quot;You talked about (Buju) doing a lot of things that he did not do,&quot; Markus said while cross-examining Johnson.

Small talk

The men also made small talk while driving to an undercover police warehouse in Sarasota on December 8, according to another recording.

Johnson admonished the singer for smoking. Buju replied, &quot;I smoke herbs, man. A lot of ganja.&quot;

Buju also complained, according to the recording, about a gay-rights group that had protested over violent, homophobic lyrics from early in his music career. Shows in several US cities last year were cancelled because of the protests.

&quot;They're pushing me, man,&quot; he told Johnson. &quot;These guys are trying to run me under.&quot;

Johnson also testified that Buju introduced him to Ian Thomas, a co-defendant, who the singer said had contacts to sell cocaine.

A video played for the jury of the meeting at the Sarasota warehouse with Johnson and an undercover police officer appeared to show Thomas opening a kilo of cocaine, with Buju peering over his shoulder. Thomas then appears to hand the knife he used to cut open the drugs to Buju, who tasted the drugs with a finger.

Also in the video, Johnson and Thomas negotiate the price and quantity of a shipment of cocaine.

[neutral]

Re: buju testify

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

yu a chat label mii a chatt clubs. moas dem artist money iss parfarminn inn clubs.

da onlee reason y mii doan defend buju iss dat oww rasta widd soul a deal widd mzungu line </div></div>

Well you do have some redeemable qualities then,.......let;s be honest,anyone who claim to be a rasta should stay well clear of the type of drugs that buju is implicated with.
As for being a &quot;rasta with soul&quot;,...there are very few peple that can lay claim to that title,
people who live in glass houses should not throw stones,if you claim to be purer than pure, then you should be whiter than white ( pardon the pun)
The man is supposedly a reggae artiste,one who stands on soap boxes decrying others for their choices,yet here he stands on trial for greed for purveying illegal substances that you and I would not want our children to be within a million miles of.

[neutral]

Re: buju testify

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.

but bak to di argument..di man seh him did tink di man could gi him industry link...wich promoter out dere dont know of Buju...plus artiss no hyah management fi himself plus him label an den do di wuk himself...if dat is di case him could save bet 5-15% of him earnings

</div></div>

Very salient point,and I respect your honesty here,artistes do not negotiate their own links to industry big wigs,that is the job of their management,artistes do their performing on stage,and leave all that kind of footwork to their management,(As you probably know being connected to the industry)....he claims that he was talking bullsh!t when he engaged the drug dealer,......seems he is still talking bullsh!t.

[blugiant]

Re: buju testify

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">den u tawking outta di odda mout cause di man seh him tink di man was a contact fi di industry...mom n pop show is not industry...plus dese days is a handful a artiss can get visa n nuff tings was mekking him iffy as one who could get one...

mom an pop naw leggo no drug money fi show no more cause show a lose money...venue too expensive an insurance haffi buy di show cause u neva know who a go lose dem mind up in dere....

artiss a hold dem own show fi get show...

but bak to di argument..di man seh him did tink di man could gi him industry link...wich promoter out dere dont know of Buju...plus artiss no hyah management fi himself plus him label an den do di wuk himself...if dat is di case him could save bet 5-15% of him earnings

</div></div>

iff yu wait pon yu management fee doo evereeting fe yu dat chubble ann dat y soo manee artists ave prablem widd dem management ann label wey doan properlee promote dem. realitee iss dat sum artiste do de wukk demselves

evan music industree contacts iss natt as limited as yu mekkinn itt out. deer iss reason y artists woo ar natt booked to parfarm show upp inn certain clubs. a latt aff music contacts ann addar business tekk place inn clubs.

a promoters a book da shows ann dem artists too greedee dat y soo manee aff dem gitt veree likkle shows fe parfarm.

[neutral]

Re: buju testify

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

iff yu wait pon yu management fee doo evereeting fe yu dat chubble ann dat y soo manee artists ave prablem widd dem management ann label wey doan properlee promote dem. realitee iss dat sum artiste do de wukk demselves
</div></div>

LOL!.....man that is pure nonsense,if an artiste is signed to a reputable management company there is absolutely no reason to promote himself,most management company will charge 15% and some up to 30% or more,with that kind of dough being payed which artiste need to then promote themselves,especially if the contract is water tight and contain certain clauses which will stipulate that the management provides ex amount of work,promotions,recording contract,etc etc.

[blugiant]

Re: buju testify

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Natral</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

yu a chat label mii a chatt clubs. moas dem artist money iss parfarminn inn clubs.

da onlee reason y mii doan defend buju iss dat oww rasta widd soul a deal widd mzungu line </div></div>

Well you do have some redeemable qualities then,.......let;s be honest,anyone who claim to be a rasta should stay well clear of the type of drugs that buju is implicated with.
As for being a &quot;rasta with soul&quot;,...there are very few peple that can lay claim to that title,
people who live in glass houses should not throw stones,if you claim to be purer than pure, then you should be whiter than white ( pardon the pun)
The man is supposedly a reggae artiste,one who stands on soap boxes decrying others for their choices,yet here he stands on trial for greed for purveying illegal substances that you and I would not want our children to be within a million miles of. </div></div>

dat de rantinn aff intoxicated buju. infarmer got buju drunk ann buju chatt a latt aff nunsense. buju neva bought ar sold drugs accordinn to da investigator ann informant. buju neva finance annee drug deal accordinn to da investigator ann informant. noo proof dat buju eva profitted fram annee drug deal. da money dat dem canficated wass natt buju money. da case against buju rest pon de argument dat informant tricked buju to meet imm at de wharehouse wear buju introduced imm to a man dat later tried to do a drug deal.

buju iss wan aff dem showaff yaawd peeps wey brag fe bigg demselves up dat y imm such a good perfarmer

[quodlibet]

Re: buju trial begin

Hi All,

Here are some updates from my forum:

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: onthegroundnews</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Confirmed: Buju Banton testifies in drug...gae star Buj...</span>
Confirmed: Buju Banton testifies in drug conspiracy trial in Tampa - (AP)

#Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton says he talked a lot about drugs with a U.S. government informant, but that doesn't make him a drug dealer.
Banton is on trial in Florida on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and aiding and abetting two others in possessing a firearm during the course of distribution.

The singer testified today that the informant he met on a plane last summer initiated their conversations about drugs. Banton said he made up ambitions to deal cocaine to impress the informant, who he believed would introduce him to music industry contacts. Banton said he was surprised when the informant presented him with cocaine at a Sarasota warehouse in December, a meeting captured on video.

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=445&amp;uid=124361237591258

</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: onthegroundnews</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Confirmed: Bob Marley's son testifies in... Marley, the...</span>
Confirmed: Bob Marley's son testifies in Buju's defence - (St Petersburg Times)

Stephen Marley, the son of reggae legend Bob Marley, testified as a character witness for Buju Banton today in Tampa, calling the acclaimed singer &quot;the voice of the people'' who never talked about drugs.
Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, is on trial in federal court in Tampa on drug conspiracy charges. Both grew up in Jamaica and have collaborated on music. Marley said he has known Banton for 20 years.

Defense attorney David Markus asked Marley whether he ever heard Banton discuss drugs.
&quot;No, no,&quot; Marley said. &quot;Never.&quot;
Marley called Banton &quot;the voice of Jamaica,&quot; noting that his music is ingrained in the nation's culture.
&quot;That sums it up,&quot; he said. &quot;What Banton means to us. He is the voice of the people.&quot;
Banton has earned four Grammy nominations since his debut album in 1992.
He is considered one of reggae's elite stars, with his 1995 album Til Shiloh garnering a spot among Rolling Stone's &quot;Essential Recordings of the '90s.&quot;

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=444&amp;uid=124361237591258

</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: onthegroundnews</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Confirmed: Buju Banton not told about dr...ed in a Flor...</span>
Confirmed: Buju Banton not told about drugs at warehouse On the day Buju Banton was filmed in a Florida warehouse filled with cocaine last December; he did not know he was going there to see drugs...
http://www.facebook.com/notes/on-the-gro...143202325722997
http://www.facebook.com/notes/on-the-gro...143202325722997
</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: onthegroundnews</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Confirmed: Witness in Buju Banton's defe... the Buju Ba...</span>
Confirmed: Witness in Buju Banton's defence pleads the fifth - (Observer) The defence in the Buju Banton trial suffered a minor setback this morning when a possible witness pleaded the Fifth Amendment, deciding not to testify on behalf of the Jamaican singer...
http://www.facebook.com/notes/on-the-gro...143188899057673
</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: onthegroundnews</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Confirmed: OGNR has posted an Observer s... Notes secti...</span>
Confirmed: OGNR has posted an Observer summary of the Buju Banton Trial in Florida. See Notes section on our Facebook page.
</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: onthegroundnews</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Tapes hurt Buju - Damaging testimony aga...ey David Mar...</span>
Tapes hurt Buju - Damaging testimony against J'can artiste TAMPA, USA -- Defence attorney David Markus slung his arms across the shoulders of his lanky Reggae superstar client 'Buju Banton' at the end of the morning session of his cocaine trial at the Gibbons US Court here yesterday. The ...
http://www.facebook.com/notes/on-the-gro...143139729062590
</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: onthegroundnews</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Confirmed: Prosecution plays damning rec...ecution in t...</span>
Confirmed: Prosecution plays damning records in Buju Banton trial - (Observer)

The prosecution in the drug trial of international artiste Buju Banton called its main witness to the stand this morning as the second day of the proceedings got underway in Tampa USA.
Alexander Johnson, the Colombian informant who is assisting in trying to secure a conviction against the artiste, testified that he met Banton on a flight from Madrid, Spain to Miami Florida. The flight lasted eight hours, Johnson said, and a conversation about drug dealing come up within an hour.The prosecution then played recordings where Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was heard telling Johnson, &quot;I am about making money, straight up' and &quot;I have 15 children to send to school&quot;.
Myrie was also heard asking Johnson if he had any contacts to acquire cocaine as he was willing to finance a deal. He also told Johnson that he did not have contacts in Venezuela and Panama but that he was involved in smuggling drugs from Africa to Europe.
He was also heard telling Johnson that &quot;It would be good to have our own contacts. I would like to start small with five keys as I don't want to take any risks&quot;. The artiste also warned the informant that he should stay away from a man known as Lloyd Evans as &quot;There are a lot of snitches in the game&quot;.
See link below to view full article.

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=440&amp;uid=124361237591258

</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: onthegroundnews</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Buju Banton was an established drug traf... Buju Banton...</span>
Buju Banton was an established drug trafficker says US Gov't - (AP) Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton was an established drug trafficker before the singer allegedly tried to buy cocaine from an undercover officer in Florida last year, attorneys for the U.S. government said Monday at the beginning of Banton's drug trial...
http://www.facebook.com/notes/on-the-gro...142850619091501
http://www.facebook.com/notes/on-the-gro...142850619091501
</div></div>

[blugiant]

Re: buju testify

Reggae star Buju Banton said he's embarrassed about what he has done, afraid of losing his freedom but innocent of any involvement in drug trafficking.

&quot;I'm just a humble musician,&quot; he testified today in his trial on federal drug charges.

An informant's recordings capturing Banton talking about large-scale cocaine deals are all accurate, the Jamaican musician said, but they are just talk.

&quot;I was just talking garbage with him,&quot; Banton said, referring to informant Alexander Johnson. &quot;I was just talking straight-up garbage.&quot;

Banton, a four-time, Grammy-nominee whose real name is Mark Myrie, has been held without bail since his arrest in December. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Two codefendants, James Mack and Ian Thomas, have pleaded guilty.

Also testifying for Banton today was Stephen Marley, son of reggae icon Bob Marley. He said he has known Banton for 19 years and has never known him to be involved with cocaine.

&quot;He's a close friend of mine,&quot; Marley said. &quot;I love him.&quot;

Marley said Banton is important to Jamaica. Referring to Banton's album &quot;Voice of Jamaica,&quot; Marley said, &quot;That really sums up who Buju is to us.&quot;

Banton and Johnson met in July 2009 when they sat next to each other in business class on a flight from Madrid to Miami. Banton said he had just concluded a European tour.

The prosecution maintains Banton was eager to join forces with Johnson, a former Colombian cocaine smuggler who now earns a living as an informant. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Preston told jurors in his opening statement Monday that Banton was already an established drug investor looking for new opportunities.

According to prosecutors, Banton introduced Johnson to Thomas, his friend and driver, and then allowed the deal to proceed, keeping himself &quot;in the trenches,&quot; away from the action.

The defense contends that although Banton talked a lot and tasted cocaine when the informant surprised him by showing him the drug, he is not a drug trafficker; the deal that transpired among Thomas, Mack and Johnson had nothing to do with Banton.

Banton, 37, testified that he thought Johnson, who introduced himself as &quot;Junior,&quot; was funny and likable. Banton said he went to coach class during the flight to check on his band members and then encountered a flight attendant who blocked his return to business class.

He said he was allowed to return to his seat after Johnson interceded and vouched for him.

He said Johnson also told him he knew people in the music business in Los Angeles and might be able to help him.

&quot;I thought I was going to see him because we were talking about my career,&quot; Banton said.

When he talked to Johnson about buying and selling cocaine, Banton said, &quot;I was trying to impress this guy, and that's what got me in the hot seat I'm sitting in now.&quot;

Asked why he tasted cocaine when shown a kilo of the drug in a Sarasota warehouse, Banton said, &quot;I don't know why I did that. If I could, I would rewind the hands of time.&quot;

[neutral]

Re: buju testify

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

dat de rantinn aff intoxicated buju. infarmer got buju drunk ann buju chatt a latt aff nunsense. buju neva bought ar sold drugs accordinn to da investigator ann informant. buju neva finance annee drug deal accordinn to da investigator ann informant. noo proof dat buju eva profitted fram annee drug deal. da money dat dem canficated wass natt buju money. da case against buju rest pon de argument dat informant tricked buju to meet imm at de wharehouse wear buju introduced imm to a man dat later tried to do a drug deal.

buju iss wan aff dem showaff yaawd peeps wey brag fe bigg demselves up dat y imm such a good perfarmer </div></div>

Agree this may have been his first foray into the cocaine industry,but come on bigman,...to claim that an informer may have got him drunk,that is stretching the imagination somewhat.

However,I tend to agree that he is yet another yard showoff that is fond of bragging in order to impress yard people,which is all the more reason to see him as yet another false prophet who merely says and sings what he thinks will impress the jamaican market.

[neutral]

Re: buju testify

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Asked why he tasted cocaine when shown a kilo of the drug in a Sarasota warehouse, Banton said, &quot;I don't know why I did that. If I could, I would rewind the hands of time.&quot; </div></div>

I think I hear the making of some decent lyrics for a song here,.........doesnt quite have the ring of &quot;boom bye bye&quot;...,,but it;s got potential.