L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center Denounce Buju Banton’s Grammy Nomination
December 7, 2009 · Print This Article
The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center is condemning the Grammy’s nomination of Rapper Buju Banton.
In a statement issued the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Chief Public Affairs Officer Jim Key, the center expressed anger and disapproval over the nomination.
“We’re shocked that Buju Banton, a singer with a long record of performing a song that glorifies the murder of gay people, would be honored with a Grammy nomination, regardless of the artistic merit of any of his work”, says Key.
“Throughout his career, Banton has performed music that promotes a culture of violence against lesbian and gay people; he sings in “Boom, Bye Bye” that “faggots get up and run” when he comes, that “they have to die,” and that he will shoot them in the head or “burn them up bad.” He is completely unrepentant, refuses to stop performing the song, and recently said, “There is no end to the war between me and faggots.”
Key continues by saying, “It’s an affront to LGBT people, and to all fair-minded people around the world, that Buju Banton was even nominated. We certainly hope the members of the Recording Academy will not bestow the prestigious honor of a Grammy on someone whose music promotes murder.”
Banton is nominated for Best Reggae Album as part of the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards that will air January 31st, 2010.
Several of Banton’s shows were canceled this year by club owners and promoters, including AEG Live and Live Nation who canceled their shows on Buju Banton’s US tour due controversy around Banton’s lyrics promoting attacks on LGBT people.
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I’m sick and tired of the GAY and Lesbian Community continued complaints about Buju’s “boom Bye Bye” song! This song was recorded over 15 years ago!!! The content of the song is not to be desired, but he has not recorded another song that disparages homosexuality, so why can’t it be done with already?? The request was made for Buju to stop performing the song-but is this fair to his fans who may want to hear him perform it? I have been to a show in jamaica where Buju performed and the crowd started to chant for him to perform the song….CHANT….. Buju was in a catch 22…disappoint his fans, anger the gay and lesbian community….What does he do… He let’s his band play the music (he didn’t sing) and guess what…. the CROWD SANG EVERY WORD TO THE SONG!!! The issue is not whether Buju should be banned from the grammy…. He simply said some things that some people agree with and some people don’t. We don’t all have to like each other’s lifestyle but he has already paid his dues. It’s time to move on and find another cause!!!
He has changed as an artist now. He NO LONGER sings that song and as far as I know you cannot discriminate against somebody for their personal feelings. It’s not even on his greatest hits. I find the song and the sentiments revolting but we must accept that the artist no longer perfoms this song and let him continue with rest of his career.
Who are the gays to say that he doesn’t deserve a grammy? I’m so sick of you all. try getting to know him based off something positive like tons of his other uplifting songs. He’s not nominated for no reason. the song the gays are sooo hung up over was one song he did as a teenager as an outcry because a young boy was raped and murdered by a man in his area. Get to know the history behind a story before you label someone “homophobic” and judge. I’m also disappointed in the gay commununity for the protesting and pepper spraying of his concerts. They are doing the exact same thing that they are trying to fight, prejudice. They”re trying to beat someone down for not feeling the same way as they do, that’s what homophobes do, they’re behaving as homophobes. Eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.
Everyone is not going to accept you!!! Get over yourselves and move on. I’m a buju fan, I know his music and will always love him!!!!!!
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