Worries in the dance: Buju Banton builds album anticipation with mixtape
Key Points(5)
- Buju Banton is returning to his roots while building anticipation for his upcoming album, Too Too Bad , with the release of a special mixtape celebrating Jamaica’s sound system culture.
- Released in collaboration with legendary sound system King Addies, Buju Banton Presents: Worries In Di Dance serves as the official precursor to Banton’s 13th studio album, Too Too Bad , which is scheduled for release on July 17 through VP Records.
- The one-hour project, mixed by fourth-generation King Addies selector Kingpin Addies, debuted at No.
- 7 on Apple Music’s Reggae chart shortly after its exclusive release on the streaming platform.
- “Dancehall sound systems are the heartbeat of the ghetto, of which I am a byproduct,” the Grammy Award-winning entertainer said in a statement.
Buju Banton is returning to his roots while building anticipation for his upcoming album, Too Too Bad, with the release of a special mixtape celebrating Jamaica’s sound system culture.
Released in collaboration with legendary sound system King Addies, Buju Banton Presents: Worries In Di Dance serves as the official precursor to Banton’s 13th studio album, Too Too Bad, which is scheduled for release on July 17 through VP Records.
The one-hour project, mixed by fourth-generation King Addies selector Kingpin Addies, debuted at No. 7 on Apple Music’s Reggae chart shortly after its exclusive release on the streaming platform.
“Dancehall sound systems are the heartbeat of the ghetto, of which I am a byproduct,” the Grammy Award-winning entertainer said in a statement. “Therefore, as an ambassador, it is my duty to petition for them globally. This was essential to and for my album rollout.”
Long before streaming platforms and social media, sound systems played a central role in Jamaica’s music culture by introducing new songs, breaking emerging artists and providing gathering spaces for communities across the island.
The collaboration also carries personal significance for King Addies founder Fada Eton, who reflected on his decades-long relationship with Banton.
“Buju became a brother while becoming a multigenerational reggae dancehall pillar and prolific legend,” he said in a joint social media post shared by both camps. “It’s nice to hear him return to his roots with this new album. Also, it’s both a pleasure and an honor to celebrate his greatness and King Addies’ legacy on this mix.”
The mixtape arrives as excitement continues to build around Too Too Bad, fueled by the success of the album’s lead single, “Butterflies,” which has generated significant attention ahead of Friday’s release.
While introducing listeners to the sound and direction of the forthcoming project, Worries In Di Dance also revisits some of Banton’s defining musical moments, tracing his journey from his early dancehall beginnings to his current status as one of reggae’s most influential voices.
The rollout signals a return to the raw sound that helped establish Banton as one of Jamaica’s most compelling performers before he evolved into an internationally recognized reggae ambassador.
The release of Too Too Bad marks Banton’s first full-length studio album since Born For Greatness in 2023 and his 13th overall.
Following the album’s release, Banton will make several appearances in the United States. On July 18, he will join fellow reggae artist Stephen Marley for the Roots & Rhythms Summer Tour stop at UBS Arena in New York, before making a national television appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on July 20.
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