Grammy winner, multiple Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping artist and international reggae icon, Buju Banton, released the first single from his much-anticipated album, “Upside Down” Monday.
“Memories,” a tour-de-force vocal match with Banton and multi-Grammy winner, John Legend, is a love song for the ages. It marks the second time the artists have collaborated, having worked on Legend’s spring 2009 release, “Can’t Be My Lover.”
The song is first of many on his first full-length studio album in a decade.
John Legend is a multi-Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, producer, actor and philanthropist. He has won every major creative award, making him one of 15 people and the first black man to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Legend is also the second youngest person to have achieved this milestone. Since 2019, he has been featured as a coach on The Voice winning the 16th season.
Banton appeared at Madison Square Garden for a live performance of the song with Legend that rocked a sold-out summer crowd, a few months after “Can’t Be My Lover” was released.
“Things change, people change, time changes but good friendship and memories will never change,” Banton said.
“This is another special one with my good friend John. We hope the masses love it.”
Years of mutual admiration resulted in this new offering. “Memories” was written by Banton, Steven “Lenky” Mardsen and legendary producer and longtime Banton collaborator Donavan Germain.
“I was so excited to collaborate with Buju on another song. He’s an icon, and this song is another classic,” Legend said.
The quintessential artist celebrated his return to the worldwide stage following his performance at Kingston’s Famed National Stadium. The Long Walk to Freedom Concert was one of the biggest music events in Jamaica’s history and was the launching pad for the tour of the same name. His subsequent announcement that he had signed with Roc Nation followed by releasing two brand-new songs “Steppa” and “Trust” and accompanying music videos energized his impressive global audience.
Banton’s last studio album, the Grammy-winning, “Before the Dawn,” was released in 2010. He is currently in the studio finalizing “Upside Down.”
“Memories” is available to stream.