Buju Banton Sets July 17 Date For Dancehall Album Too Too Bad

Buju Banton has confirmed that his next album, Too Too Bad, is due out July 17 via VP Records. The release is already stirring interest among his supporters, and it is being billed as a "real dancehall ting," pointing listeners toward the forceful dancehall style that helped make Buju one of Jamaica's major music voices.

The new project comes after his 2023 Grammy-winning album Born For Greatness and is expected to be his latest full-length work centred on dancehall. Its rollout follows Butterflies, the first single from the album, which arrived last month.

Butterflies was produced by noted Jamaican producer Supa Dups for Black Chiney Music. On the track, Buju performs over an updated take on the famed Real Rock riddim. Gargamel Music released the single in partnership with VP Records, giving fans an early sense of the direction of the coming album.

The album name Too Too Bad is also prompting links to Buju's 2006 set Too Bad, which included dancehall favourites such as Try Off A Yuh, Hey Boy and Better Day Coming. To many listeners, the new title appears to acknowledge that period, when Buju was a dominant force on the charts.

Across more than 30 years in music, Buju Banton has moved through different sounds while keeping a strong place in reggae and dancehall. His body of work, from early dancehall hits to reggae songs with a spiritual focus, has shaped younger artistes and added to Jamaica's musical influence internationally.

With the release now only weeks away, fans are waiting for more information, including the full track list and any featured guests. Based on the title, the lead single and the way the album is being introduced, Too Too Bad may bring Buju back to the rugged dancehall spirit that helped define his standing in the genre. For dancehall followers, July 17 is already being treated as a major summer release date.