Anthony Moses Davis, better known as the indomitable Beenie Man, is the grandfather of dancehall and a West Indian icon. With over 60 number 1 singles, countless hit albulms and collaborations with top artists such as Missy Elliott, Monica, Mya, Janet Jackson, The Neptunes, Kelis, Lil Kim and Wyclef Jean, Beenie Man has proved himself to be Jamaicas best export since the great Bob Marley.
Beenie Man(which translates as Little Man in Jamaican patwah) made his first single aged 8 called "Too Fancy" with the legendary reggae producer, Henry "Junjo" Lawes.
Born into a family of Rastafarian patriarches, Anthony grew up in the infamous Craig Town. A tropical ghetto as much laced with talent as with crime of which famous musicians such as Duckie Simpson also hails from.
Aged 10, Beenie Man made his first single entitled "Killer Sound" with a teenage Patrick Roberts producing it and then followed up with his first albulm called : "The Invincible Beenie Man: Ten Year Old Boy Wonder" with Bunny Lee. The follow up albulms "We Run Things" and "Kipway came in quick succession with massive success and back with Patrick Roberts for a new label called "Shocking Vibes".
In 1993, the dancehall star became a dancehall phenomenon with mega hits such as "Gal Massive" smashing the Jamaican charts to pieces. For a whole year, Beenie Man dominated the charts, a feat yet to be repeated by anyone other than the man himself. Beenie Man also rocked the caribbean with his first ever tour.
But 1994 was to take the young Rastafarian to even greater heights, dropping his albulm "Blessed" with sensational hits such as "Slam", "Modeling" and "Matey" that meant that the year of '94 belonged (once again) to Beenie, who won the "King of the Dancehall" award which he has retained all but twice since.
In 1996, Beenie made his acting debut in the American made movie, "Dancehall Queen" in which he plays a reggae don. Beenie also wrote and sang the sound track and theme tune to the film.
1997 was to be the year that Beenie first tasted international success when he launched his Grammy nominated albulm: "THe Many Moods Of Moses". A smash hit in many countries. With the smash hit single "Who Am I" peaking at number 6 in the British charts. "Girls Dem Suga" also did well.
Beenie Man released his next albulm, "The Doctor" in 1999 with a more raw but appealing sound with more hits such as "Gospel Time" on the disc
2000 saw the release of "Art and Life" which won the Grammy for best reggae albulm of the year. 2002 also saw the release of the "Tropical Storm" albulm which, literally kicked up a tropical storm.
2004 has not been the best of years for the dancehall king. in January he suffered life threatening injuries when his hum vee overturned while navigating a road block and Paul Tyrell, Beenie's road manager was shot, dead.
But despite all this strife, Beenie has come through with flying colours and no doubt will continue to dominate the dancehall scene for years to come
Bio written by: jiggyX7 |
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