Buju Banton Mounts Dynamic U.S. Return with ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ New York Concerts: 5 Best Moments

A strong backing band is an essential element of any formidable live show, and The Shiloh Band rose to the occasion. About midway through the performance, Buju acknowledged that Sunday night’s show was slightly different from the night prior, but that didn’t stop the band from seamlessly adjusting to his cues and working together with him in real time to create individual emotional arcs throughout the show’s overall narrative.

Without any substantial breaks, the band essentially molded songs from across Buju’s gargantuan catalog into one long song, effortlessly transitioning between tracks loosely based on theme and tempo. Some standout instrumentalists in the band included the saxophonist, guitarist and both percussionists — all of whom had extended solo moments that helped the audience bask in the earthiness of live reggae instrumentation. Of course, Buju’s two background singers — one of whom happened to be his youngest sister — were also pitch-perfect. In fact, the two of them holding down the chorus of “Wanna Be Loved,” while Buju took in the sold-out crowd singing it back to him, made for one of the night’s most beautiful moments.

At the end of the show, led by his youngest sister, the icon’s family flooded the stage to serenade Banton with “Happy Birthday” and surprise him with a cake onstage. Although Banton’s actual birthday is Monday (July 15), the moment capped off an extremely emotional night. Allowing both Banton and his fans to celebrate this moment together — especially after over a decade of waiting for his return — was the perfect ending to a night that was always acutely aware of its gravity without ever crumbling under that weight.

By the end of the night, one thing was clear: Once Buju wrapped those locs around his neck, he was about to deliver some of the show’s most physically expressive moments. At 51 years old, with nearly 40 years of music under his belt, Buju Banton has seen countless iterations of reggae and dancehall, and the distinct styles of stage shows that come with each of those eras. Recently, there has been much debate about the younger school of dancehall relying on lip-syncing to backing tracks instead of performing their music live. Most of the genre’s OGs are staunchly against the practice, and Buju’s sold-out shows prove exactly why.

Whether he was pushing his vocal chords to their limit on harrowing renditions of “Murderer” and “Holy Mountain,” or activating his waistline for tracks like “Love Sponge,” Banton put his entire body into every song of his set. His New York shows were a masterclass in the high-octane performances that ground reggae’s history, while also injecting that energy with deep-seated reverence for both the love of his fans and all that God has helped him overcome.

“He used to be in the car with me and Big Pun. And the car be like this [tilts aggressively.] ‘Cause it wasn’t skinny Fat Joe, it was fat Fat Joe!” the New York hip-hop icon quipped as he gave Banton his flowers live on-stage, telling the story of their decades-long friendship.

Before introducing Fat Joe to the stage for a performance of his Billboard Hot 100-topping “Lean Back,” Banton described the ways the rapper used to drive all the way from the Bronx to take him around New York City, during a time when he didn’t have many friends in the city. Remy Ma — who strutted onto the stage to the sound of particularly fervent cheers — soon joined for her “Lean Back” verse, before segueing into “All the Way Up,” which similarly kept the arena jumping. The best example of how New York’s cultural melting pot translates into music, this crossover collaboration felt like an exaltation of the city’s true character.

From the moment Banton opened the show with “Buried Alive,” it was clear that Long Walk to Freedom New York was going to deal with life’s brightest and darkest moments. Earlier this year (Feb. 25), Peter “Peetah” Morgan — the lead singer of Morgan Heritage — passed away, and Banton made sure to pay tribute to his “beautiful soul” at his show.

To help honor the late Peetah Morgan, Banton brought out Gramps Morgan — one of Peetah’s brothers — for a stirring rendition of the timeless “Psalm 23.” As the two men walked down center stage hand-in-hand, belting out lines like “Yeh, though I walk in death’s dark veil/ Yet will I fear no ill/ Thy rod and staff, they are with me/ They surely comfort still,” UBS Arena was treated to an unequivocally unforgettable moment in reggae music history. Love of humanity guides Buju above all else, and it’s that love that spurred him to share his moment with all of the people who have poured into him throughout his career.