Beenie Man Says Dancehall Is The Biggest Music In The World

Beenie Man has been at the top of Dancehall music since the 1990s. The 47-year-old’s stage performance and musical abilities have given him a Grammy award and several Mobo awards.

He and his long-time arch-nemesis, Bounty Killer, are credited by producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland with setting the performance bar for the online music series Verzuz when they performed last year and have since received equity in the billion-dollar multimedia company Triller after a partnership deal with Verzuz.

In this interview, Beenie Man shares stories about his other rivals, conquests in Dancehall, and insight into how he managed to remain relevant in music over the years.

Wah yah deal with JR

Beenie, greetings, you are arguably the best performer in the world. My favorite performance with you was with Capleton at Amazura nightclub. Tell me about that time.

It wasn’t something that was planned. We deh a show and the time was done, the same thing that started our rift brought back the unity. The time a finish and Capleton fi work and I say come een fyah man. I got back into good vibes and good music. It was a serious gesture and it worked because he respected it and him love it and when me see wah gwan I got into the vibes. Before that me and Capleton never talked and that night deh we talked with music.

I noticed it seemed as if you both recorded the songs together at the same time.

Yes, it was the same timeline. Hits after hit, me get a hit and him get a hit. Sometimes me get two hits but it was so competitive between me and him but then it just turned into love.

Your songs captured the essence of the time. What’s different between then and now?

You know Dancehall different now because artists anuh friend, them not on the same beat. But I can’t adapt to that.

You have dabbled in many different genres of music, even K-Pop.

Yes, I can’t beat wah gwan now but we (can’t) lose the authenticity of where the music coming from. We not even sampling a Reggae drum that means we lose the authentic Jamaican feel. Dancehall come from Rubba Dub. Every dancehall artist from Michigan and Smiley and U-roy used to be chanters of songs, that’s where it’s coming from. We do all Pocomania dancehall.

I heard Clevie, (of Steelie and Clevie) said when he started making rhythms he used to call the music reggae and it was the people who called it Dancehall. 

Yes because it used to play in the dance hall. Hear why we became dancehall artists; We stayed. Everyone else came and got a band and left. Bands don’t play in dancehall, sound systems play in dancehall. So they called us dancehall artists.

Who made you want to become a dancehall artist?

When I realized I could talk. I had a stutter, but when I sang the words flow. So me a seh ok I see wah gwan and start DJ when the teacher called me up to read. My yard was the Ethiopian Orthodox yard because my father was sent here by Sellassie I.

Jimmy Cliff was there and my Uncle was playing in his band and that was the base where I was brought up. There was a sound called Master Blaster. So I would sing the reading books and then I met a DJ named General Trees and I would watch him DJ. Then I said this is what I wanted to do from his influence.

Did your family support you when you began?

My mother, who called it buggy yagga music, is a christian and she never liked DJ business. But then I won Tastees (song competition) and started coming on TV I got popular and she didn’t stop me.

Rest in Peace to her. Tell me another moment that validated your music and career?

Other than winning Tastees, my defining moment was 1991 when Mandella came to Jamaica. I decided to pick up back music after going through tough times. In 1991, Mandela came to Jamaica and I went on stage and got a boo. That was the day I decide that music is it. Some man discouraged me but I had two directions; I didn’t forward back to my yard. I deal with the road that will free me.

Did you meet Mandela?

After I became a star I met him in South Africa.

You won a Grammy.  What do you think of the organization?

The youngest person on the Grammy board is my age, changes will come but that’s the United States Of America. It’s an American business and them take long to change things. Right now is a reggae Grammy for, whether you sing dancehall, Soca or Reggae (laughs). Dancehall is one of the biggest music in the world. When Rihanna sings it it’s still Dancehall.

Dancehall music makes up only 1% of the world’s music consumption.

What happened to Justin Bieber’s song? When they categorize the music people don’t recognize where it comes from. It doesn’t need no other name. If dancehall is not marketable why does Sean Paul sell so much?

How do you suggest (dancehall) artists sell more records?

Artists just need the right team. If I had, for example, you on my team, I as an artist with a brand, I know that will go cause I have a brand.

What’s the name of your upcoming album?

Simma, it is a reminder, so when me seh Simma the world will know it’s Beenie Man.

Big up, Beenie Man. 

Thanks, J Big Up.