He was booed off stage at a show celebrating the visit of Nelson Mandela. In 1993 at the very popular show Sting he accused fellow deejay Bounty Killer that the elder artist had stolen his catchphrase, "people dead". This triggered a lyrical battle which continued on the air with each artist counteracting the other's songs. Finally, in 1995, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer settled their differences on the air by actually signing a peace treaty and the two recorded an album together, Guns Out. This was followed by a single, "No Mama No Cry", a rehash of the Bob Marley classic "No Woman No Cry", speaking out against violence and inspired by the murder of Pan Head, another popular Deejay.
Partially as a result of prodding from his producers, Sly and Robbie, Beenie Man soon converted to the Rastafari movement.
In 1994, he was signed by Island Records and released the critically acclaimed album Blessed.
In 1995, Beenie Man released a remix of Barrington Levy's "Under Mi Sensi" in the United Kingdom, and collaborated with Dennis Brown and Triston Palma to release Three Against War and Lt. Stitchie on Mad Cobra Meets Lt. Stitchie & Beenie Man. He took another step up the ladder in 1996, releasing the seminal Maestro, produced by Patrick Roberts and shot him to UK fame. During the period from the mid to late '90s, Beenie Man dominated the Jamaican charts to the extent that he perhaps had a good claim to the crown of "Dancehall King", a title only bestowed previously on Yellowman in the early 1980s.
In 1998, Beenie Man signed to Virgin Records to release albums in the United States. His first American offering was The Doctor (1998). In 2000, Beenie Man teamed up with Arturo Sandoval and Wyclef Jean (The Fugees) to release The Art & Life. During the late 1990s, Beenie Man began his conquest of America with the hits, "Romie", "Who Am I" and "Girls Dem Sugar", which featured American R&B singer, Mya.
In 2002, he had a sizeable hit with a duet with Janet Jackson called "Feel It Boy", but his biggest break in America came in early 2004 with the release of a remix of "Dude", featuring guest vocals by fellow Jamaican Ms. Thing, as well as rhymes by Shawnna.
Boogie Down
Beenie Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Chorus]
Woman a scream and a boogie down pon di dance floor
A ask di selector fi more
Compulsory mek yuh hear a shot bus' fi sure
Because di place full up a hardcore
Man and woman have fun although wi poor
How di hell yuh fi waan' only mek noise
When a music mek 'nough skull nuh bore
Ask them!
Have you ever tek a tracks dung a Brayton
Fi hear Classics sound a boogie down?
Di same people politics operate music mek dem all gather round
Well, yuh nuh si this dancehall business gone to zero
Every champion sound ina di business tun disco
Yuh nuh have nuh more King champion sound outta road
Weh a play weh fi bus nuh more hero
How some guys wonder how yuh hear bout Johnny Ringo?
A from Gemini and di Great Volcano
King Jammy's, King Tubby's, and Heat Wave,
Dem deh sound come bout as dancehall hero but
[Chorus]
Well hey
Mi nah watch no face
I will turn down di bass
But music haffi ina di place yes
Poor people get vex
'Cause wi done mark wi X
No music, no election nuh flex
Hey
This is di way Government respond
After reggae music just tek over France
Poor people media and food for substance
Check Sunsplash for instance .but
In Beenie Man's song "Boogie Down," he talks about the joys and struggles of dancehall culture. The chorus states that women are screaming and dancing, and people are having fun even though they are poor. It talks about gun violence but how it's necessary to ensure the safety of everyone in the dance hall. Music is what brings people together, and it's more than just making noise as it provides an escape from their everyday lives.
The song then talks about how music is a unifying factor, bringing together people from all walks of life. Beenie Man mentions that some people wonder how they even know about artists like Johnny Ringo. All of it comes from dancehall music and its heroes like King Jammy's, King Tubby's, and Heat Wave. However, the song also highlights how dancehall music has changed over the years, with many champion sound systems going out of business and tunes becoming more disco-like. It reflects how the music industry is always evolving but still continues to bring people together.
Overall, "Boogie Down" is a tribute to dancehall culture and how music can change the world by bringing people together on the dance floor. It celebrates the joy of music but also recognizes the challenges and problems that come with it. The song is a representation of the struggles and resilience of those who live in poverty but still find joy in the art of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Woman a scream and a boogie down pon di dance floor
Women are dancing and screaming on the dance floor
A ask di selector fi more
They are requesting the DJ to play more music
Compulsory mek yuh hear a shot bus' fi sure
You have to hear gunshots because of the hardcore environment
Because di place full up a hardcore
The place is filled with people who love hardcore dancehall
Man and woman have fun although wi poor
Even though they are poor, men and women are still enjoying themselves
'nough mouth get fed and gun haffi store
Many people are fed, but some may resort to violence (keeping guns) due to poverty
How di hell yuh fi waan' only mek noise
Why would you only want to make noise when there is music that can move you?
When a music mek 'nough skull nuh bore
Music can keep things interesting and prevent boredom
Have you ever tek a tracks dung a Brayton
Have you ever taken a train to hear Classic sounds?
Fi hear Classics sound a boogie down?
To hear classic music and dance
Di same people politics operate music mek dem all gather round
Politics can bring people together, but so does music
Well, yuh nuh si this dancehall business gone to zero
The dancehall business has declined heavily
Every champion sound ina di business tun disco
All champion sound systems have turned to disco music
Yuh nuh have nuh more King champion sound outta road
There are no more king champion sound systems out there anymore
Weh a play weh fi bus nuh more hero
Sound systems that could make hits and create stars no longer exist
How some guys wonder how yuh hear bout Johnny Ringo?
Some guys wonder how you hear about Johnny Ringo
A from Gemini and di Great Volcano
You hear about Johnny Ringo from Gemini and Great Volcano sound systems
King Jammy's, King Tubby's, and Heat Wave,
King Jammy's, King Tubby's, and Heat Wave sound systems
Dem deh sound come bout as dancehall hero but
These sound systems were once considered as dancehall heroes
Mi nah watch no face
I won't pay attention
I will turn down di bass
I will lower the bass of the music
But music haffi ina di place yes
But music still has to be at the gathering
Poor people get vex
Poor people get angry
'Cause wi done mark wi X
Because we have already cast our vote
No music, no election nuh flex
Without music, there will be no elections with excitement
This is di way Government respond
This is how the government reacts
After reggae music just tek over France
After Reggae music became popular in France
Poor people media and food for substance
Poor people depend on media and food for survival
Check Sunsplash for instance .but
Check out Sunsplash for example, but...
[Chorus]
Repeat of the chorus
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MOSES DAVIS, ROBERT MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Raymond
My favorite Bennie man songs, this song is factual,every line he sang you can picture it happen in the country.
Mike Hutchinson
I grow up on his music. And know doubt he's the king of the dance hall when you check his achievements and awards..
Cody Bell
Vybz Kartel comes really close to that title too. But they are both great artists and have been around for ages.
Original Donovan
If you want to see a dance hall crowd rock & dance watch their reaction when this tuff Beenie man tune is played alongside the other versions...
Jamaicalandwelove
Who come here after the interview
Lyrics Guru( Moving cloud-Simba)
Beenie is so hardworking...🇰🇪👍2022
Stacy-ann Mccallum
Love this🔥🔥🔥🔥
DJ LARRY MUSIC
reggae bring back love...🔥💯👍🏼
Ian Belgrave
....YES BEENIE!!!!....REAL MUSIC!!!!!
Chief E
Dis chune loud inna di car 💥💥💥💥💥