Beenie Man At His Undisputed Best

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Written by Kiki Ess

Friday, 23 June 2006 12:02

The undisputed 'King of the Dancehall' is at it again.

Picture this. "Girls", sexy, some chocolate, some light brown. Short straight hair. Long wavy hair. One in dare-to-bare shorts; another in a black lace mini-dress. All dancing for the camera and the only two men in the room. Now cut to a scene with three ladies in bikinis, up against each other. Better yet, the same two men from before surrounded by seven more girls.

No, it's not a scene from the next "G-String Divas" episode; no nudity here, folks. Just "Girls", the video collaboration between Beenie Man and Akon.

Akon, a chartbuster of international acclaim, is most well-known for R&B/ Hip-Hop hits "Locked Up" and, more recently, "Ghetto". So how exactly did he link up with the dancehall phenom? As it turns out, there wasn't much linking up needed, as Beenie and Akon have been friends for the past six years. And with artists from various genres becoming more involved in the dancehall scene, it was only a matter of time before the two decided to join forces. The end result is a call "to all cute and sexy girls".

Shot in New York a little over two months ago, the video is set for release in July. The TEMPO network in the Caribbean has the worldwide exclusive on the premiere, but fans can look for other music networks and websites to begin airing the video soon after.

But that's not the only project in the works for dancehall's reigning king. Beenie Man is keeping busy these days.

In 2006, Beenie Man is set to TKO the competition once again with his "Undisputed" album, to be released in August.

Featured on the album is hit single "Hmm Hmm", which has already made it onto Billboard's Rhythmic Top 40 and R&B/HipHop charts. The lead single is typical dancehall with its hypnotic bass-laden rhythm and is sure to set off a mad rush for music stores once the album drops. Only recently released, "Hmm Hmm", produced by Tony Kelly and Shocking Vibes, is destined to be a favorite of dancehall fans for years to come.

While the album makes valiant attempts to balance dancehall with reggae and R&B, throwing in a dash of reggaeton, it is the hard-hitting, pulse-pounding display of lyrical prowess that's sure to astound even the harshest Beenie Man critics, if any still exist. Another soon-to-be hit from the album, titled "Come Again", is just 'rude' with its catchy chorus sure to have every yardie and yardie-want-to-be reaching for their lighters in celebration of the king's return. And the single "So Dangerous" is absolute proof that even when he's mellow, his skills are deadly.

"Undisputed" appears to have something for everyone. The "gal massive" will be delighted to learn that several songs are addressed to them. In fact, his single "Dirty Wine" from the album has already inspired a new dance with the ladies. A reggae love song is thrown into the mix as well. And there's more.

"Undisputed" ushers in some well-known hits of yesteryear with the new. Die-hard dancehall lovers will recognize the beloved "Chakka Dance" from the Jonkanoo Riddim that set dancehall clubs on fire in Summer 2005. "Chakka Dance" spawned the Chakka Belly, a variation of a dance popularized by Elephant Man. Also included in the album is "Back In Di Days" (85 Riddim) from late 2005. "Back In the Days" takes on a deeper tone as Beenie Man reminisces about events in his life.

Born Moses Davis in the Waterhouse District of Kingston, Jamaica, Beenie Man dropped onto the music scene at the tender age of five. By the age of ten, he was a veteran, having already released his first album. The next decade witnessed the release of several religiously themed singles, a publicized feud with a well-known contemporary, and hit after hit. By the time "Dude" was released, songs such as "Under Mi Sensi", "Dancehall Queen", "Ruff Like We", "Skettel Tune", "Who Am I", "Slam", and "Tell Me", had already propelled Beenie Man to permanent stardom. With "Undisputed", Beenie Man shows the world once again that the former child prodigy reigns supreme.

Want to know more about the legendary artiste? Visit his official webpage at www.beenieman.net.

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