Latest Release
- 13 DEC 2024
- 1 Song
- Back to Basics · 2004
- Best of Beenie Man · 1997
- Best of Beenie Man · 1997
- Back to Basics · 2004
- From Kingston to King of the Dancehall - A Collection of Dancehall Favorites · 2000
- Top of the Line · 2006
- Unstoppable · 2016
- Tropical Storm · 2002
- Tropical Storm · 2002
- Best of Beenie Man · 1999
Essential Albums
- With the ‘90s came a wildly energetic wave of new dancehall kings and queens whose names spread far beyond Jamaica. His first album to get an international release, <I>Blessed</I> left no doubts in the world about what Beenie Man could do. Thanks to his multi-octave vocals and witty lyrics, Beenie Man’s skill set was wide enough to extend from club-friendly fare like the steamy “Tear Off My Garment” to the jubilant “Man Moving”, one of several with a gentler vibe. Whichever direction he took, the results benefited from the deft production style of Patrick Roberts—whose work with Lady Saw and Lieutenant Stitchie is just as strong—and the faultless rhythmic foundation provided by the legendary rhythm section, Sly & Robbie. That duo’s presence was just one sign of Beenie Man’s deep roots in an earlier era of Jamaican riddim and sound. On <I>Blessed</I>’s more thoughtful tracks, Beenie Man explores the religious and political themes that had been a major part of reggae before losing prominence to ragga’s accelerated tempos. “Presidents and prime ministers, none you can blame,” he attests on <I>Blessed</I>’s fiery-minded title track. “Two of dem a play inna rich man’s game.” “Freedom” combines a lament about the “Babylon system” with an irresistibly warm melody. There’s no doubt Beenie Man can start a party, too. Two exhilarating hits full of the hooks, grooves and great big bass that helped define dancehall’s new digital age, “Slam” and “World Dance” established the singer and DJ as an international force. They also paved the way for his later collaborations with Wyclef Jean and Janet Jackson, along with further cross-pollinations between Jamaican rhythms and American hip-hop and R&B.
- 2016
- 2023
- 2023
- 2023
Artist Playlists
- The undisputed King of Dancehall.
- Collabs and curiosities beyond his canon of dancehall classics.
- 2024
- Toledo, Digital Sham & DJ Chiqui Dubs
More To Hear
- Estelle interviews the legendary Jamaican artist, Beenie Man.
About Beenie Man
Mentored by his uncle Sydney Knowles, who was also Jimmy Cliff’s drummer, Beenie Man began toasting at age five. ∙ At age 19, he had his coming-out party when he blew away the crowd at 1992’s Reggae Sunsplash. ∙ Two years after starting a public beef with established DJ Bounty Killer, Beenie and his rival made up and released the 1994 split album Guns Out. ∙ On the Sly & Robbie-produced single “No Mama No Cry,” a version of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry,” Beenie railed against violence following the murder of DJ Pan Head. ∙ After he was signed by Island Records, which had brought Bob Marley’s music to the world, the label released his critical breakthrough, 1995’s Blessed. ∙ Beenie picked up the Best Reggae Album Grammy Award for 2000’s Art & Life, featuring Kelis, Mýa, Redman, and Fugees’ Wyclef Jean.
- FROM
- Kingston, Jamaica
- BORN
- 22. August 1973
- GENRE
- Reggae