Beenie Man Says This Is Why He’s Still ‘King Of The Dancehall’, Not Vybz Kartel Or Yellowman 

Many Dancehall titans have come and gone, but Anthony Moses Davis, also known as Beenie Man, maintains he’s still the genre’s undisputed King. Crowned before a captivated crowd at 2009’s Reggae Sumfest festival, Beenie’s presence and contribution are, at this point, undeniable.

Speaking with Youtuber Teach Dem, Beenie reiterated his stance with reason, using a clever football anecdote for humorous effect.

“How a man fi tell me, seh Maradona, ah di king ah football an a one World Cup him win? Pele win three. Put fun and joke aside, wah me an yu ah trace bout?” Beenie quipped on the enormity of his achievements to date. It seems all reigning royals must contend with attempts to usurp the throne or undermine the value of their life’s work, however, Beenie was ready for the naysayers.

The Doctor chided those newcomers eager for the top spot, yet not focused on their fans’ satisfaction saying, “Every minute dem ah seh di young artist dem, dem naah do weh dem supposed to do and dem naah dis and dem nah dat. Di people dem still waah see me. Me now nah go let down wah me mek fi do cause you claim seh ah your turn, it nuh mek nuh sense.”

“Inna my turn mi go Billboard Top 10, every song mi release BET 106 & Park, MTV, who ah do dis now bredda? Fi dem turn nuh come yet so a still my turn,” the singer said with his Grammy Award on display during the interview.

Citing his unmatched credentials and sustained hunger for his craft, he called out those who admittedly hold plenty of clout but are still hostile and unconvinced.

Alluding to Vybz Kartel’s April 2020 assertion that Beenie is “the old king aka his former Highness”, the veteran lashed out at recent crude remarks from yet another living legend.

King Yellowman was highly critical of Beenie’s remake of his 1982 breakout hit “Zungguzungguguzungguzeng,” which appears on a forthcoming Jeremy Harding tribute project, Dancehall Anthems. 

Openly voicing his displeasure at the announcement months ago, Yellowman said he’d have preferred if Shaggy or Sean Paul had performed his hit instead and proceeded to label Beenie Man as “a common mango trying to be an East Indian.”

Appearing unruffled by Yellowman’s colorful comments, though, Beenie defended both himself and the move. “Mi respect Yellowman cause him buss as King Yellowman but him nuh do weh me do. Di other day mi see him inna paper ah seh common mango waah be East Indian. Yuh cyah call me common mango, me a Grammy Award winner. Mi nuh East Indian neither, mi ah West Indian.”

“Yuh cyah call me common mango,” Beenie continued.

“Disrespect yuh disrespect me an mi neva disrespect you, all mi do ah sing over yuh song fi show homage to you publicly. Ah VP send call me seh dem waah put out a respect album wid some songs weh did mek it back inna di 80’s. Mi show di man honor and respect an him disrespect me.”

It seems that dispute won’t die any time soon either or even rest without an air of secrecy as Beenie ended by saying, “Mi good wid Yellowman, ah di king dat. Ah him nuh good wid me. Yuh tink ah tru me ah di King ah Dancehall mek him nuh like me? Him know why him nuh like me, people is not music.”