Buju Banton is Back with VP Records and New Single ‘Butterflies’ Just in Time for His U.S. Summer Tour
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Buju Banton is entering a new chapter in his storied career. On April 17, the Jamaican reggae and dancehall luminary announced his signing with VP Records and released his new single, “Butterflies.”
“I have been working with VP Records for over 30 years, and I will say it again … they get it,” Banton stated, reflecting on his enduring partnership with the influential Caribbean music label, which has produced landmark albums, including 2003’s Friends for Life. VP Records CEO Christopher Chin remarked, “Buju has always been a defining voice in reggae, and his return to VP Records reinforces our shared commitment to continue inspiring our culture that resonates across the globe.”
The Grammy-winning artist marked this significant moment with the launch of “Butterflies,” produced by Supa Dups. This single serves as a preview of his upcoming LP, which will be his first full-length release with VP Records since 2006. Set for a summer 2026 release, the album aims to deliver “music that touches the soul to a point where it’s constantly playing in your head … and you just wanna spread your wings and be a butterfly.”
Banton’s latest album, Born for Greatness, released in 2023, earned him his eighth Grammy nomination. This project features collaborations with artists like Victoria Monét and Snoop Dogg and represents Banton’s second release under Roc Nation, following 2020’s Upside Down 2020, which reached No. 2 on the Reggae Albums chart and was his first album after his release from prison in December 2018.
This summer, Banton is set to embark on a joint Roots and Rhymes Tour with fellow Grammy winner Stephen Marley. The tour will kick off on June 17 at Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington, and will include stops in major U.S. cities such as New York, Chicago, and Boston, concluding on July 25 at Lakewood Amphitheatre in Atlanta. Joining them will be Grammy winner Gramps Morgan on select dates, while Splackavelli will provide lively DJ sets.
In his return to the U.S. for live performances, Banton expressed his eagerness to reconnect with fans after more than 13 years away. “After not being here for quite some time, I look forward to reigniting that passion and euphoria,” he told Billboard prior to two sold-out shows at New York’s UBS Arena. In 2025, he won the Caribbean Music Award for reggae collaboration of the year alongside Damian Marley and Bugle for their song “Thank You Lord.”
Throughout his career, Buju Banton has sent 12 projects to the top 10 of the Reggae Albums chart, with four of those also making it onto the all-genre Billboard 200. His hit “Champion” notably spent nine weeks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart in 1995, peaking at No. 52.
Listen to “Butterflies” and view the complete tour dates for Buju Banton and Stephen Marley below.
