Friends for Life is the seventh studio album by Jamaican recording artist Buju Banton . It was released on March 11, 2003 through VP Music Group with exclusive distribution via Atlantic Records . Production was primarily handled by Donovan Germain and Buju Banton, along with Cool & Dre , Jammy "Jamz" James, Sheldon Stewart, Sly Dunbar , Steely & Clevie , Steven "Lenky" Marsden . It features guest appearances from Beres Hammond , Bounty Killer , Fat Joe , Nadine Sutherland , Sons & Daughters Choir and Wayne Wonder . The album peaked at number 198 on the US Billboard 200 album chart, and was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards ,[ 2] but lost to Sean Paul 's Dutty Rock . The album was supported with charted single "Paid Not Played", which peaked at number 84 on the Official Singles Chart Top 100 in the UK .
Friends for Life Released March 11, 2003 (2003-03-11 ) Studio
The Room for Black Shadow Records Area 39 Recording Studio Askum Recording Studio Penthouse Recording Studio King Jammy's Recording Studio
Genre Length 75 :23 Label VP Music Group Producer
"Paid Not Played" Released: 2003
Rick Anderson of AllMusic said that "This is not his best album by a long shot, but it does demonstrate his clear superiority to most of the dancehall pack".[ 1] Dave Simpson, reviewer of The Guardian , saw the album as the biggest escalation of his positive side of music, saying: "Since 1995's well-regarded 'Til Shiloh, he has become known as Mr Positivity, and this album is the upper and worst example of that trite and withdrawn imagery", ending the review saying: "after a strong and rousing beginnings, Friends for Life gets lost in slush".[ 3]
Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Paid Not Played" 4:01 2. "Tra La La" Steven "Lenky" Marsden 3:24 3. "Teaser" (featuring Bounty Killer ) Steely & Clevie 3:48 4. "Excerpt of a Speech by Marcus Mosiah Garvey" 0:56 5. "Up Ye Mighty Race" Myrie Buju Banton 4:02 6. "All Will Be Fine" (featuring Sons and Daughters Choir) Donovan Germain 5:33 7. "Maybe We Are" Donovan Germain 6:20 8. "Mama Africa" Peter Tosh Donovan Germain 4:47 9. "Hooked on the Love" Donovan Germain 3:58 10. "Get It On" (featuring Wayne Wonder ) Banton 3:30 11. "Friend for Life" Banton 3:51 12. "Good Times" (featuring Beres Hammond and Fat Joe ) Donovan Germain 4:24 13. "Damn" Myrie Andre Lyon Marcello Valenzano Cool & Dre 4:20 14. "La Da De Da" Banton 3:22 15. "Feeling Groovy" Donovan Germain 3:14 16. "Pensive Mood" Myrie Banton 4:25 17. "Spectacular" Myrie Jammy "Jamz" James 3:49 18. "What Am I Gonna Do" (featuring Nadine Sutherland ) 4:03 19. "Mr. Nine" Sheldon Stewart 3:36 Total length: 1:15:23
^ a b c Anderson, Rick. "Friends for Life - Buju Banton | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" . AllMusic . Retrieved September 15, 2020 .
^ "GRAMMY Award Results for Buju Banton" . GRAMMY.com . September 13, 2020.
^ a b Simpson, Dave (March 7, 2003). "CD: Buju Banton, Friends for Life" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Retrieved September 15, 2020 .
^ Brackett, Nathan ; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide . New York : Simon & Schuster . p. 44. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8 .
^ "Buju Banton Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved September 15, 2020.
^ "Buju Banton Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved September 15, 2020.
^ "Buju Banton Chart History (Reggae Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved September 15, 2020.
^ "Buju Banton Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved September 15, 2020.