Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Busy Signal

Busy Signal live at Chiemsee Reggae Summer 2009. Photo by Pooorn-O – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Busy Signal

Jamaican dancehall singer Busy Signal arrived in 2005 with the hit “Step Out,” beginning his rise from underground artist to one of reggae’s bigger stars. ( No Doubt, Major Lazer, Tiwa Savage) and with his songs.

In addition to singles and mix-tape projects, Busy Signal brought his tuneful songwriting to occasional album releases like 2012’s Reggae Music Again  and 2019’s Parts of the Puzzle. 

1. Busy Signal was born Reanno Gordon and raised all over the island of Jamaica

Chiemsee Reggae Summer – Busy Signal. Photo unattributed – Wikimedia Commons

Busy Signal was born Reanno Gordon and raised all over the island of Jamaica. He started singing hymns at his Mother’s church, which is where he received his first encore.

When the church was over, Reanno would sit on the corner with his friends and flip the devotional lyrics, until his Mother’s guiding hand cautioned him for altering the Lord’s songs. Reanno continued performing at school, beating his fists in time on his desk and deejaying Bounty Killer’s songs (he claims to know all of Bounty’s lyrics) before progressing to his material.

2. Busy Signal earned that nickname from friends in West Kingston

Busy Signal on the red stage of the summer jam festival 2013. Photo by Emha – Wikimedia Commons

The always hustling, always busy singer earned the nickname Busy Signal from friends in West Kingston where he eventually settled. After releasing “Step Out” he became a favorite amongst dancehall fans thanks to his clever lyrics and some flamboyant performances including wearing a gas mask while performing at Jamaica’s annual Reggae Sting showcase.

 “Step Out” became the title track for his debut album, released by the Greensleeves label in 2006. At the end of 2008, his single “Tic Toc” took hold in America, landing on the cable network BET’s playlist along with urban radio. Rounding up “Tic Toc” and many other Jamaican singles, his 2008 album borrowed an idea from the Velvet Underground  with the title Loaded, as in “loaded with hits.”

In 2012, not only did Busy Signal collaborate with No Doubt and Major Lazer on the single “Push and Shove, but” he also released his third full-length album Reggae Music Again. 

5. The change in Busy Signal style didn’t detract from his success in the least

Guitar player of Busy Signal on the red stage of the summer jam festival 2013. Photo by Emha – Wikimedia Commons

The album was a homage to roots reggae and lovers’ rock sounds, moving away from the more hard-hitting dancehall styles he’d built his fame on. The change in style didn’t detract from his success in the least, and his fame continued to climb over the next several years with the slow release of new songs every so often.

 It wouldn’t be until 2019 that he returned with his fifth album Parts of the Puzzle.  

6. Busy Signal, an alias given to him by a friend because of his constantly busy persona

bass player of Busy Signal on the red stage of the summer jam festival 2013. Photo by Emha – Wikimedia Commons

Busy Signal, an alias given to him by a friend because of his constantly busy persona, has always approached his craft from a different perspective, not trodding the usual road of trying to voice on every rhythm out there to try and catch a break.

 Instead, Busy chose to record songs with concepts attached to them on purpose-built rhythms. The first such track to catch the attention of a wider audience was “Born and Raised”, a song in which Busy Signal reps his birthplace and narrates the gritty realities of Jamaica.

“Even though I was an unknown artist and there was no one else on the riddim,” says Busy, “the track got good airtime which encouraged me to keep doing what I was doing. Producers don’t want to give young artists a break more time, so young artists can get stifled. I just work hard on putting creative flows and melodies together and so far people have been feeling it.”

7. Busy does not see his music as stopping in Jamaica

Chiemsee Reggae Summer – Busy Signal. Photo unattributed – Wikimedia Commons

Already with a big following worldwide, Busy doesn’t see his music as stopping in Jamaica. A slew of Busy Signal mix CDs flooded the streets from Halfway Tree to Brixton to Flatbush and beyond, creating and spreading the hype that lead to Busy being the strongest young artist to emerge from 2005.

Busy’s self-production and businesslike approach to the industry has seen him already launch his label, Network Records. The first releases, “Tell Santa Dis” and “Where I’m From” are distributed worldwide and are selling well.

8. Busy Signal has no problem recording for other labels

Chiemsee Reggae Summer – Busy Signal. Wikimedia Commons

Although Busy didn’t rely on familiar rhythms and producers for a break, he has no problem recording for other labels, such as Renaissance, for whom Busy recorded “Not Going Down,” showcasing his singing and deejaying abilities.

Other tracks from Busy include “Because of You,” with Tami Chin on the Throwback Giggy beat, “That Bad,” and “Pharmacy” for Don Corleon, “Fade Away” for John John, and “Too Much Gun,” which sees Busy in explosive form, delivering rapid-fire lyrics atop the reworked Man Fi Dead (Petty Thief) sound bed.

9. Busy Signal garner immense critical success from show-stealing appearances

Chiemsee Reggae Summer – Busy Signal – Wikimedia Commons

The end of 2005 saw Busy Signal garner immense critical success from show-stealing appearances on all the major stage shows across Jamaica, including the Smirnoff Experience alongside Sean Paul, Bobby Valentino, and others, as well as Island Explosion, Camp Fire, and West Kingston Jamboree.

And of – course there was the already-legendary debut appearance at 6.45 am on the toughest stage in the world – the infamous Sting reggae concert. Busy stepped out in the rising sun adorned in full black and underlined why he is here to stay.

10. Busy is already being heralded as a new icon in the business

Busy Signal on the red stage of the summer jam festival 2013. Photo by Emha – Wikimedia Commons

2006 has seen no ease up in Busy’s momentum, with a headline-grabbing performance at Reggae Sumfest 2006, where he performed solo on Dancehall Night and was also called up by G Unit on International Night.

With successful tours of the UK, the Caribbean and Japan already knocked down and with Step Out breaking new ground on the esteemed Billboard chart, Busy is already being heralded as a new icon in the business.