Buju Pleads Not Guilty to Drug Charges

Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton has pleaded not guilty to drug charges after his December arrest.

Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was arrested in Florida and charged with conspiring to buy more than five kilograms of cocaine from an undercover police officer for $125,000. The incident was caught on audio and video.

"Mark is innocent," defense attorney David Markus said, according to the St. Petersburg Times. "And the government's case has got no soul."

Banton is known for his homophobic lyrics, especially for the song "Boom Bye Bye," which mentions killing gay people. He is nominated for a Grammy award for his latest album, Rasta Got Soul.