Buju back on Billboard

REGGAE artiste Buju Banton has re-entered Billboard, following his recent arrest in the US, which hiked his online presence.

Banton's latest album, Rasta Got Soul, was the second highest jumper this week on Billboard Reggae Charts. The album, currently at number 15, has re-entered the charts due to its increased sales over the previous week. Banton's album was second to Soja's Born in Babylon which was top jump of the week.

Following his December 10 arrest in Florida, Banton's online presence skyrocketed and he became the second most popular reggae artiste, following Bob Marley. Prior to his arrest, Banton was less popular than many of his peers, but his trend data from US-based search engine Google had risen so fast that between December 13 to 18 he was twice as popular as Shaggy, four times more popular than Vybz Kartel and six times more popular than Sizzla and Mavado. On New Year's Eve, Banton's presence had waned but he still was more popular than Mavado and Sizzla, and is tied with Damian Marley.

Google Trends analyses a portion of Google web searches to compute the quantity of searches for terms relative to the total number of searches done on Google over time. Google states that trends may include data-sampling and approximation errors.

Banton, born Mark Myrie, along with Ian Thomas, also called 'Yush' and Jason Mack, was held December 10 by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and charged with conspiracy and intent to distribute at least five kilogrammes of cocaine.

The Jamaican reggae singer, who was only recently nominated for a Grammy Award, will have his case heard in Tampa, Florida where the offence allegedly occurred. No date has yet been set for the hearing.

DEA agents said the three were part of a drug syndicate which sought to purchase cocaine from an undercover cop. The 36-year-old Banton has vehemently denied the charges.

DEA agents reported that they had been following the entertainer's movements for four days and alleged that he was caught on camera sampling cocaine in an undercover warehouse in Sarasota, Florida.

A grand jury indictment also accused Banton, Thomas and Mack of carrying a firearm during the course of the alleged crime.

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