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Baker's Dozen

Awakening Songs: Buju Banton's Favourite Music
Zakiya Mckenzie , July 29th, 2020 09:41

As Buju Banton releases his first album in a decade, he guides Zakiya Mckenzie through the songs that shaped him, from discovering dancehall on the school minibus to collaborating with Pharrell Williams

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Beres Hammond – ‘Putting Up Resistance’
This song motivates me for various reasons no matter what kind of mood I’m in, ‘Putting Up Resistance’ really lifts me. It’s one that teaches you to watch the weather for yourself, that way you’ll know when to carry an umbrella, even when the weatherman says something different. This one tells you ‘don’t follow what you hear, watch for yourself, resist’. And if the people really listen to this song, they would wise up. You have to put up a resistance if it threatens your existence. With all happening in the world now, it seems as if people are finally seeing that. For so long reggae music has been telling people, ‘wake up, wake up, wake up!’ This song is no different, its telling you to wake up. I love it because it will keep you in the here and now.

What was like working with Beres Hammond?

The results of what it was like to work with Beres Hammond are quite evident. If it was a tumultuous situation we wouldn’t have such beautiful records to show. It was beautiful to work with Beres, and its’ always been. Fun, loving, jovial, incredible guy.