Despite attracting mainstream attention with his current case before the US Court, Buju Banton’s album Before the Dawn was unable to unseat Distant Relatives by Nas and Damian Marley, from the top of the Billboard Reggae album tally.

The ten track Before the Dawn debuted at number two on the chart. It debuted at number 26 on the Heatseekers Album chart.

Banton has registered some ten titles on the Billboard Reggae album chart since 1993. Voice of Jamaica peaked at number six in 1993, while Til Shiloh had a better showing when it peaked at number two in 1995. Inna Heights gave Banton his sole chart topping disc, when it soared to the top in 1997.

Unchained Spirit peaked at number two in 2000, while Ultimate Collection released in 2001, stalled at number 6. Another hits compilation, Best of Buju Banton got stuck at number eight in 2003, while Friends for Life surged to number three in 2003.

Too Bad got as far as number six in 2006, while Rasta Got Soul rose to number two in 2009.

Over on Media Guide’s Reggae Speciality chart, which tracks the most played songs at College radio stateside, Innocent, the first single from Before the Dawn, falls from number three to number four.

Toby Keith bullets to number one

Country music star Toby Keith’s latest album Bullets in the Gun shot to number one on this week’s edition of the Billboard 200 album chart. This is his fourth number one album and his eleventh top ten entry.

Sales of Bullets in the Gun reached 71,000 copies in its first full week at retail. This is 19,000 copies less than his last album American Ride (2009) which sold 90,000 copies in its first week. That set peaked at number three.

Even though he has been sitting at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the past three weeks with Just the Way You Are (Amazing), newcomer Bruno Mars’ debut album Doo-Wops and Hooligans slams onto the chart with 55,000 copies sold to debut at number three.

Last week’s number one album Hemmingway’s Whiskey by Kenny Chesney falls to number two with 65,000 copies.

Eljai takes ‘the lead’

Reggae singer Eljai is on top with his latest single The Leaders. The song has taken over the number one spot on the Jamaica Music Countdown after more than twenty weeks of chart life. It is currently spending its second week in the number one spot.

Originally from Belize, Eljai has been steadily making his mark on the reggae music scene in California, where he currently resides. In a recent interview, he expressed pleasure at the song’s achievement. “I am extremely happy that the song has gone to number one in Jamaica. It’s a lot of work that went into that song and I have to say thanks to the producer Flava, who did a great job on the track,” an excited Eljai said.

The success of The Leaders, is not limited to Jamaica. The track which was produced by Kemar ‘Flava’ McGregor recently peaked at number nine on the New York and South Florida Reggae charts. It is currently number four on the Virgin Islands Reggae chart.

Tarrus Riley a hit with the French

The flood rains that wreaked havoc on Jamaica recently, didn’t stop the show as far as singer Tarrus Riley’s scheduled performance in Guadeloupe and French Guiana were concerned. With the dislocation of the Harbour View Bridge, Riley had to be transported via helicopter to the airport to make it to the French island.

A large crowd reportedly came out to see the singer at the Lasaka, where Riley is said to have riled up patrons with a show-stopping one hour set. He also engaged his audience as he spoke to them at intervals in French.

The following night, Riley continued his winning ways as he entertained a throng of patrons at Matoury in French Guiana.

The event billed as 7eme biennale du Marronnage, is held every other year, to mark the end of slavery.

Commenting on both performances, Riley said, “it was a wonderful experience and the fans really showed their love and support. Just to be able to communicate with them through music was a blessing.”

DID YOU KNOW

Did you know that Jamaican audio engineer, producer and keyboardist Steven Stanley, co-wrote the song Genius of Love by The Tom Tom Club? Genius of Love was a huge hit worldwide reaching the Top 40 in the US and the UK in 1981.

Genius of Love was later sampled in a number of hits including Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s It’s Nasty in 1982; Mariah Carey’s Fantasy in 1995; and Mark Morrison’s Return of the Mack in 1996.