KINGSTON, Jamaica – On the peak of the COVID-19 lockdowns in Might, 2020, rappers Swiss Beatz and Timbaland staged Verzuz, an Instagram collection pitting common artists in opposition to one another in a lyrical throwdown. Essentially the most watched was between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer.
Their ‘conflict’ happened throughout Memorial Day Weekend and attracted 1000’s of viewers together with Diddy and Rihanna. The dancehall deejays took turns performing a few of their hit songs together with Matie and Reminiscences from Beenie Man and Suspense and Dwelling Dangerously by Bounty Killer.
Their highly-anticipated 20-round square-off was additionally hailed by Jamaican prime minister Andrew Holness, who declared on X (then twitter) that,”Jamaican tradition is international.”
On August 6, Holness introduced Beenie Man and Bounty Killer with World Icon awards throughout Grand Gala celebrations on the Nationwide Stadium in Kingston. 5 days earlier, it was introduced that the previous rivals might be invested with the Order of Distinction, Jamaica’s sixth-highest honor, in October.
Grattitude from Beenie Man
Beenie Man
“Because of the guts of (the) Jamaican individuals, each one. Thank unnuh (you) for supporting us for all these years,” 50 year-old Beenie Man (actual title Moses Davis) stated in his acceptance speech.
Bounty Killer Expresses Gratitude
Bounty Killer
Bounty Killer (given title Rodney Worth), 52, additionally expressed gratitude.
“Thanks, Mr. Prime Minister. I simply need to say I’m humbled and grateful to obtain this. It is a milestone. That is one thing that a whole lot of us by no means get to obtain whereas we will have fun. So, my brother Moses, we got here from rivals to iconic idols… It’s been over a decade I can not journey to sure international locations. That is definitely a Jamaican milestone,” he stated.
The 2 weren’t as pleasant within the Nineties when their bitter rivalry made headlines. Satirically, Beenie Man’s (now former) spouse D’Angel was as soon as romantically linked to Bounty Killer.
Throughout that decade, they launched signature albums. My Expertise by Bounty Killer got here out in 1994; it accommodates hard-hitting songs just like the title monitor, Fed Up, The Lord is My Gentle And my Salvation, and Dwelling Dangerously (with Barrington Levy).
Beenie Man’s Many Moods of Moses dropped three years later. It was a success machine, with songs like Who Am I, his American breakthrough; Basis and Oysters And Conch.
In 2001, Beenie Man gained the Grammy Award for Greatest Reggae Album with Artwork And Life.
