American hip-hop star Fat Joe has said he was among those who pushed Nigerian singer BNXN to abandon the name “Buju.”
He made the claim during a podcast chat with reggae legend Buju Banton, explaining that the move was about protecting the legacy attached to the name.
Fat Joe suggested that having another artist use “Buju” caused concern due to its long-standing association with Buju Banton, leading to criticism and pressure that eventually forced a rebrand.
“There is a fake guy in Africa using the Buju name, we dissed him on TV, shut him down, he changed his name. I told him there is only one Buju Banton,”
Reacting, Buju Banton shared the origin of his name, noting that it was given to him by his mother and holds sentimental value. He added that he later adopted “Banton” as a nod to a DJ he admired.
“I was named Buju by my mother. Then I added Banton due to my admiration for Burr Banton,”
BNXN, who first gained attention under the name Buju, later transitioned to his current identity following debates around the similarity and industry concerns tied to the name.
