Coordinates	40°37′29″N73°57′8″N
name	Dancehall
Bgcolor	Green
Color	white
stylistic origins	Reggae, R&B;, Ska, Rocksteady, Dub, Toasting
cultural origins	Late 1970s Jamaica, especially Kingston
instruments	Early dancehall: Drums - Bass guitar - Guitar - OrganModern dancehall: Drum machine - Sampler - Synthesizer - Organ
popularity	Since early 1980s in Jamaica, worldwide beginning in early 1990s.
derivatives	Grime, Reggaeton
subgenrelist	List of genres of reggae
subgenres	Ragga - Reggae en Español
fusiongenres	Reggae fusion - Bhangragga - Oldschool Jungle
other topics	Stop Murder Music - Slackness - TEMPO Networks }}

Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably, with digital dancehall (or "ragga") becoming increasingly characterized by faster rhythms. In the mid-1990s with the rise of dancehall BoboShanti artists, such as Sizzla and Capleton, developed a very strong connection between dancehall and Rastafari.

Dancehall music has come under criticism from international organizations and individuals for its violent and sometimes homophobic lyrics, although the lyrical themes are more varied than simply dealing with slackness and violence.

History

Dancehall owes its moniker to the Jamaican dance halls in which popular Jamaican recordings were played by local sound systems. These began in the late 1940s among people from the inner city of Kingston, Jamaica who were not able to participate in dances uptown. Social and political changes in late-1970s Jamaica were reflected in the shift away from the more internationally oriented roots reggae towards a style geared more towards local consumption, and in tune with the music that Jamaicans had experienced when sound systems performed live. Michael Manley's socialist People's National Party (PNP) government had been replaced with Edward Seaga's right wing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Themes of social injustice, repatriation and the Rastafari movement were overtaken by lyrics about dancing, violence, and sexuality.

Musically, older rhythms from the late 1960s were recycled, with Sugar Minott credited as the originator of this trend when he voiced new lyrics over old Studio One rhythms between sessions at the studio, where he was working as a session musician. Around the same time, producer Don Mais was reworking old rhythms at Channel One Studios, using the Roots Radics band. The Roots Radics would go on to work with Henry "Junjo" Lawes on some of the key early dancehall recordings, including those that established Barrington Levy, Frankie Paul, and Junior Reid as major reggae stars. Other singers to emerge in the early dancehall era as major stars included Don Carlos, Al Campbell, and Triston Palmer, while more established names such as Gregory Isaacs and Bunny Wailer successfully adapted. Sound systems such as Killimanjaro, Black Scorpio, Gemini Disco, Virgo Hi-Fi, Volcano Hi-Power and Aces International soon capitalized on the new sound and introduced a new wave of deejays. The older toasters were overtaken by new stars such as Captain Sinbad, Ranking Joe, Clint Eastwood, Lone Ranger, Josey Wales, Charlie Chaplin, General Echo and Yellowman — a change reflected by the 1981 Junjo Lawes-produced album ''A Whole New Generation of DJs'', although many went back to U-Roy for inspiration. Deejay records became, for the first time, more important than records featuring singers. Another trend was ''sound clash'' albums, featuring rival deejays /or sound systems competing head-to-head for the appreciation of a live audience, with underground sound clash cassettes often documenting the violence that came with such rivalries.

Two of the biggest deejay stars of the early dancehall era, Yellowman and Eek-a-Mouse, chose humour rather than violence. Yellowman became the first Jamaican deejay to be signed to a major American record label, and for a time enjoyed a level of popularity in Jamaica to rival Bob Marley's peak. The early 1980s also saw the emergence of female deejays in dancehall music, including: Sister Charmaine, Lady G, Lady Junie, Junie Ranks, Lady Saw, Sister Nancy and Shelly Thunder.

Dancehall brought a new generation of producers; Junjo Lawes, Linval Thompson, Gussie Clarke and Jah Thomas took over from the producers who had dominated in the 1970s.

Digital dancehall and ragga

King Jammy's 1985 hit, "(Under Me) Sleng Teng" by Wayne Smith, with an entirely-digital rhythm hook took the dancehall reggae world by storm. Many credit this song as being the first digital rhythm in reggae, featuring a rhythm from a Casio MT-40 keyboard. However, this is not entirely correct since there are earlier examples of digital productions, such as Horace Ferguson's single "Sensi Addict" (Ujama) produced by Prince Jazzbo in 1984. The "Sleng Teng" rhythm was used in over 200 subsequent recordings. This deejay-led, largely synthesized chanting with musical accompaniment departed from traditional conceptions of Jamaican popular musical entertainment.

Dub poet Mutabaruka said, "if 1970s reggae was red, green and gold, then in the next decade it was gold chains". It was far removed from reggae's gentle roots and culture, and there was much debate among purists as to whether it should be considered an extension of reggae.

This shift in style again saw the emergence of a new generation of artists, such as Buccaneer, Capleton and Shabba Ranks, who became the biggest ragga star in the world. A new set of producers also came to prominence: Philip "Fatis" Burrell, Dave "Rude Boy" Kelly, George Phang, Hugh "Redman" James, Donovan Germain, Bobby Digital, Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson and Cleveland "Clevie" Brown (aka Steely & Clevie) rose to challenge Sly & Robbie's position as Jamaica's leading rhythm section. The deejays became more focused on violence, with Bounty Killer, Mad Cobra, Ninjaman and Buju Banton becoming major figures in the genre.

To complement the harsher deejay sound, a "sweet sing" vocal style evolved out of roots reggae and R&B;, marked by its falsetto and almost feminine intonation, with proponents like Pinchers, Cocoa Tea, Sanchez, Admiral Tibet, Frankie Paul, Half Pint, Conroy Smith, Courtney Melody, Carl Meeks and Barrington Levy.

In the early 1990s songs like Dawn Penn's "No, No, No", Shabba Ranks's "Mr. Loverman", Patra's "Worker Man" and Chaka Demus and Pliers' "Murder She Wrote" became some of the first dancehall megahits in the US and abroad. Other varieties of dancehall achieved crossover success outside of Jamaica during the mid-to-late 1990s. Tanya Stephens gave a unique female voice to the genre during the 1990s.

The early 2000s saw the success of newer charting acts such as Elephant Man and Sean Paul, who has achieved mainstream success in the US and has produced several top 10 Billboard hits, including "Gimme the Light", "We Be Burnin'", "Give It Up To Me", and "Break It Off" (a duet with Rihanna). He has also had several #1 singles, "Get Busy", "Temperature" and "Baby Boy" (a duet with Beyoncé).

Dancehall seems to be making a resurgence within the pop market in the late 2000s, namely Christina Aguilera's Woohoo, Robyn's Dancehall Queen and Swan Fyahbwoy.

VP Records dominates the dancehall music market with Sean Paul, Elephant Man, and Buju Banton. VP often has partnered with major record labels like Atlantic and Island in an attempt to further expand their distribution potential particularly in the US market.

Conscious ragga

In 1992, the international backlash to Banton's violently anti-homosexual "Boom Bye-Bye", and the reality of Kingston's violence which saw the deaths of deejays Pan Head and Dirtsman saw another shift, this time back towards Rastafari and cultural themes, with several of the hardcore slack ragga artists finding religion, and the "conscious ragga" scene becoming an increasingly popular movement. A new generation of singers and deejays emerged that harked back to the roots reggae era, notably Garnett Silk, Rocker T, Tony Rebel, Sanchez, Luciano, Anthony B and Sizzla. Some popular deejays, most prominently Buju Banton and Capleton, began to cite Rastafari and turn their lyrics and music in a more conscious, rootsy direction. Many modern dancehall Rasta artists identify with Bobo Ashanti.

Reggae fusion

Reggae fusion is a mixture of reggae or dancehall with elements of other genres, such as hip-hop, R&B;, jazz, rock and roll, Indian music, Latin music, drum and bass, punk rock or polka. It is closely related to ragga music. The term is also used to describe artists who frequently switch between the dancehall and reggae genres and other genres, mainly rap and r&b.; It originated in Jamaica, North America and Europe, and first became popular in the late 1990s.

The culture of dancehall

Donna P. Hope defines dancehall culture as a "space for the cultural creation and dissemination of symbols and ideologies that reflect the lived realities of its adherents, particularly those from the inner cities of Jamaica." Dancehall culture actively creates a space for its "affectors" (creators of dancehall culture) and its "affectees" (consumers of dancehall culture) to take control of their own representation, contest conventional relationships of power, and exercise some level of cultural, social and even political autonomy.

Kingsley Stewart outlines ten of the major cultural imperatives or principles that constitute the dancehall worldview. They are: #It involves the dynamic interweaving of God and Haile Selassie #It acts as a form of stress release or psycho-physiological relief #It acts as a medium for economic advancement #The quickest way to an object is the preferred way (i.e., the speed imperative) #The end justifies the means #It strives to make the unseen visible #Objects and events that are external to the body are more important than internal processes; what is seen is more important than what is thought (i.e., the pre-eminence of the external) #The importance of the external self; the self is consciously publicly constructed and validated #The ideal self is shifting, fluid, adaptive, and malleable, and #It involves the socioexistential imperative to transcend the normal (i.e., there is an emphasis on ''not'' being normal).

Such a drastic change in the popular music of the region generated an equally radical transformation in fashion trends, specifically those of its female faction. In lieu of traditional, modest "rootsy" styles, as dictated by Rastafari-inspired gender roles; women began donning flashy, revealing – sometimes X-rated outfits. This transformation is said to coincide with the influx of ''slack'' lyrics within dancehall, which objectified women as apparatuses of pleasure. These women would team up with others to form "modeling posses", or "dancehall model" groups, and informally compete with their rivals.

This newfound materialism and conspicuity was not, however, exclusive to women or manner of dress. Appearance at dance halls was exceedingly important to acceptance by peers and encompassed everything from clothing and jewelry, to the types of vehicles driven, to the sizes of each respective gang or "crew", and was equally important to both sexes.

One major theme behind dancehall is that of space. Sonjah Stanley-Niaah, in her article "Mapping Black Atlantic Performance Geographies", says

Dancehall occupies multiple spatial dimensions (urban, street, police, marginal, gendered, performance, liminal, memorializing, communal), which are revealed through the nature and type of events and venues, and their use and function. Most notable is the way in which dancehall occupies a liminal space between what is celebrated and at the same time denigrated in Jamaica and how it moves from private community to public and commercial enterprise.

In ''Kingston's Dancehall: A Story of Space and Celebration'', she writes:

Dancehall is ultimately a celebration of the disenfranchised selves in postcolonial Jamaica that occupy and creatively sustain that space. Structured by the urban, a space that is limited, limiting, and marginal yet central to communal, even national, identity, dancehall's identity is as contradictory and competitive as it is sacred. Some of Jamaica's significant memories of itself are inscribed in the dancehall space, and therefore dancehall can be seen as a site of collective memory that functions as ritualized memorializing, a memory bank of the old, new, and dynamic bodily movements, spaces, performers, and performance aesthetics of the New World and Jamaica in particular.

These same notions of dancehall as a cultural space are echoed in Norman Stolzoff's ''Wake the Town and Tell the People''. He notes that dancehall is not merely a sphere of passive consumerism, but rather is an alternative sphere of active cultural production that acts as a means through which black lower-class youth articulate and project a distinct identity in local, national, and global contexts. Through dancehall, ghetto youths attempt to deal with the endemic problems of poverty, racism, and violence, and in this sense the dancehall acts as a communication center, a relay station, a site where black lower-class culture attains its deepest expression. Thus, dancehall in Jamaica is yet another example of the way that the music and dance cultures of the African diaspora have challenged the passive consumerism of mass cultural forms, such as recorded music, by creating a sphere of active cultural production that potentially may transform the prevailing hegemony of society.

Contradictions in dancehall culture

Despite dancehall culture's ability to challenge social inequality, it is a hybridization of American aesthetics and the hardships of Kingston, Jamaica. Kingsley Stewart writes that the "Jamaican cultural model or worldview" has been very influenced by that which it was arguably created to oppose, namely Babylon or the Western influence. This is seen, in the more obvious sense, in the use of gun talk by artists like Buju Banton and Capleton, or the sporting of bling-bling by "Gangsta Ras" artists like Mavado and Munga. The term ''Gangsta Ras'', which seeks to reconcile thuggish imagery with Rastafari is an example of how in dancehall, "the misuse of Rastafari culture has diluted and marginalised the central tenets and creed of the Rastafari philosophy and way of life".

What Kingsley regards as the "socioexistential imperative to transcend the normal" is exemplified by artists like Elephant Man and Bounty Killer doing things to stand out, such as putting on a synthetic cartoonish voice or donning pink highlights while constantly re-asserting one's hypermasculine attributes. The need for one to be different and to be a superstar, as opposed to merely being talented, is a relatively new phenomenon which can be said to have started with western celebrities and rock stars. Donna P. Hope argues that this trend is related to the rise of market capitalism as a dominant feature of life in Jamaica, coupled with the role of new media and a liberalized media landscape, where images become of increasing importance in the lives of ordinary Jamaicans who strive for celebrity and superstar status on the stages of dancehall and Jamaican popular culture.

Another point of dissension of dancehall from reggae, and from its non-western roots in Jamaica, is on the focus on materialism. Prominent males in the dancehall scene are expected to dress in very expensive casual wear, indicative of European urban styling and high fashion that suggest wealth and status. Since the late 1990s, males in the dancehall culture have rivalled their female counterparts to look fashioned and styled. The female dancehall divas are all scantily clad, or dressed in spandex outfits that accentuate more than cover one's nakedness. In the documentary ''It's All About Dancing'', prominent dancehall artist Beenie Man argues that one could be the best DJ or the smoothest dancer, but if one wears clothing that reflects the economic realities of the majority of the partygoers, one will be ignored.

Anti-gay lyrics

Since the popularizing of Buju Banton's dancehall song "Boom Bye Bye" in the early 1990s, dancehall music has come under criticism from international organizations and individuals over anti-gay lyrics in a few songs. In some cases, dancehall artists whose music features anti-gay lyrics have had their concerts canceled. Various singers have been investigated by international law enforcement agencies such as Scotland Yard, on the grounds that the lyrics incite the audience to assault homosexuals. In 2003, the British LGBT rights group OutRage! called for the arrest of Elephant Man for allegedly inciting the killing of gay men in his song lyrics. He was not arrested. Buju Banton's 1993 hit "Boom Bye Bye" allegedly advocates the murder of homosexuals by shooting and/or burning ("like an old tire wheel"). Many of the affected singers believe that legal or commercial sanctions are essentially an attack against freedom of speech. Some artists eventually agreed not to use anti-gay lyrics during their concerts in Europe and the United States, although some artists, such as Capleton, continue to have their concerts canceled due to the Stop Murder Music campaign.

Donna P. Hope argues that dancehall culture's anti-homosexual lyrics form part of a masculinist discussion that advances the interest of the heterosexual male in Jamaica, which is a fundamentalist Christian and deeply patriarchal society. Even while contemporary dancehall culture in Jamaica sports images of men in pseudo-gay poses and costumes, the cultural, religious, social and gendered imperatives of the society advances and promotes the ideal man as macho and heterosexual and men who are homosexual are identified as inadequate and impure portraits of true masculinity. Dancehall music has played into and with this divide in an extreme and lyrically graphic fashion that has been rendered politically incorrect in many places globally but remains culturally relevant in Jamaica.

Dancehall dances

The popularity of dancehall has spawned dance moves that help to make parties and stage performances more energetic. Many dance moves seen in hip-hop videos are actually variations of dancehall dances. Examples of such dances are: "Like Glue","Pon de floor", "Pon de Replay", "Tek Weh Yuhself", "Whine Up" (a mix of various genres), "Boosie Bounce", "Drive By", "Shovel It", "To Di World", "Dutty Wine", "Sweep", and "Daggering" amongst many others.

References

External links

''DanceHall: From Slave Ship to Ghetto'' by Sonjah Stanley Niaah

Dancehall Riddims

Dancehall: the rise of Jamaican dancehall culture

Dancehall Reggae Songs

RUDEGAL.COM Dancehall Reggae Resource

Dancehall at the Open Directory Project

The Origins of Dancehall Reggae

Reggae Music Fm

Dancehall Queen Competition

home of dancehall and reggae music

Jamaica Banning Danchehall Music!

Murder Inna Dancehall: homophobia in dancehall music

Reggae Cocial Unity All about Russian dancehall culture.

Category:Dancehall Category:Reggae genres

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Coordinates	40°37′29″N73°57′8″N
name	Beenie Man
background	solo_singer
birth name	Anthony Moses Davis
alias	Ras Moses, The Doctor, The Girls Dem Sugar, Henry Morgan
birth date	August 22, 1973
origin	Kingston, Jamaica
genre	Reggae, dancehall, reggae fusion, Ragga-Soca
occupation	Musician, Songwriter, Deejay, Producer
years active	late 1970s–present
label	BrooklandUniversal RepublicIsland Jamaica/PolyGram RecordsVirgin/EMI Records
Associated acts	Don Omar, Snow (musician), Talib Kweli, Memphis Bleek, YoungBloodZ, Pastor Troy, Johnny J
website	www.beeniemanmusic.com }}

Anthony Moses Davis (born August 22, 1973), better known by his stage name Beenie Man, is a Grammy award winning Jamaican reggae artist. He is the self-proclaimed "King of the Dancehall".

Biography

Davis was born in the Waterhouse district of Kingston in 1973. He was involved in the music industry from a young age, starting toasting at the age of five, and was encouraged by his uncle Sydney Wolfe, who played drums for Jimmy Cliff. He won the Teeny Talent contest in 1981, and Radio DJ Barry G introduced him to local sound system operators, who helped to establish the popularity of the young deejay, who became known as Beenie Man. He recorded his debut single, "Too Fancy", with record producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes in 1981, with Lawes also including him on the 1983 album ''Junjo Presents Two Big Sounds'' alongside established stars such as Dillinger, Fathead, and Ringo. His debut album, ''The Invincible Beenie Man: The Ten Year Old DJ Wonder'' was produced by Bunny Lee and released in 1983, his first hit single following the same year with the Winston Holness-produced "Over the Sea". In 1984 Beenie Man recorded some material with Barrington Levy (released ten years later), but his music career was put on hold while he finished school, and spent time travelling to the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada.

1990s return

Beenie Man continued performing and honed his craft beside the then dominant dancehall figures including Ninjaman, Admiral Bailey and Shabba Ranks. He found his artistic home at the Shocking Vibes studio where he continued to record singles with only moderate success in the early 1990s. His career gained momentum after a performance at the ''Reggae Sunsplash'' festival in 1992, and a rivalry with Bounty Killer began the following year after Beenie Man was accused of stealing Bounty Killer's style and catch phrases. The rivalry was captured on the 1994 album ''Guns Out'', with the two artists settling the feud with a soundclash. Beenie Man had his first number one single in Jamaica in 1993 with "Matie", and he won the DJ of the Year Award the same year, the first of eight consecutive awards.

International stardom

Partially as a result of prodding from his producers, Sly and Robbie, with whom he recorded cover versions of Bob Marley's "Crazy Baldheads" and "No Woman No Cry" in 1994, the latter a Jamaican chart-topper, Beenie Man converted to the Rastafari movement, as did several of his contemporaries at the time, although in 2005 he stated "I have not converted. I was baptised an Ethiopian Orthodox and at the age of 10 I became a Judah Coptic." In 1994, he was signed by Island Records and released the critically acclaimed album ''Blessed'', which established his reputation internationally. In 1995 he toured the UK and joined up again with Barrington Levy to record an updated jungle version of Levy's "Under Mi Sensi".

In 1995, Beenie Man collaborated with Dennis Brown and Triston Palmer to release ''Three Against War'' and Mad Cobra and Lieutenant Stitchie on ''Mad Cobra Meets Lt. Stitchie & Beenie Man''. He also collaborated with Lady Saw on "Healing", Sanchez on "Refugee", and Michael Prophet on "Gun 'n' Bass", further establishing his reputation. 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 1990s, 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. Beenie Man's first real break into the United States came in 1997. He heard an instrumental rhythm by an unknown producer named Jeremy Harding, and demanded to add his voice to the rhythm. So this was the birth of his first international hit; he recorded "Who Am I" and the single quickly went Gold. It opened the doors for the world to see a new reggae star in the pages of Newsweek and other major media outlets. The same year, Beenie Man topped the Jamaican singles chart with seven different singles.

In 1998, Beenie Man headlined ''Reggae Sunsplash'' and signed to Virgin Records to release albums in the United States. His first American offering was ''The Doctor'' (1998). 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, Mýa. During this time he received an impressive number of international music awards including a MOBO Award for Best International Reggae Act in 1998, while remaining at the top of the local charts. In 2000, Beenie Man released ''Art & Life'', which featured Arturo Sandoval and Wyclef Jean (The Fugees), for which received a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. In the same year he co-produced (with Wyclef Jean) the debut album by actor Steven Seagal. Beenie Man, like many dancehall artists is outspoken on a number of social issues, as exemplified by songs such as "Steve Biko" and "Murderer".

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. He thus cemented his fan base on both sides of the Atlantic.

He had hits in the UK in 1998 with "Who am I" (#10), in 2003 with "Street Life" (#13) and "Feel It Boy" (UK #9), a duet with Janet Jackson, and in 2004 with "Dude" (#7) and "King of the Dancehall" (#14).

He was also a judge for the 6th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.

In April 2008 it was announced that Beenie Man was to co-write and star in the film ''Kingston''. In October 2010 Beenie Man came out with the EP "I'm Drinking Rum and Red Bull", which included 4 songs, "Im drinking Rum and Red Bull", "I'm Okay" , and two versions of "Stack and Pile". He later relaased the full album on February 28, 2011."Im Drinking Rum and Red Bull" features Future Fambo. In September 2008 Beenie Man was cleared of charges of tax evasion.

In April 2009, Beenie Man signed with Brookland Entertainment, a new record label formed by Eric Nicks and The Trackmasters, in preparation to release his new album, "The Legend Returns". The music video for the release of his new single “Gimme Gimme” will be shot in Canada on April 18, 2009.

Personal life

Beenie Man married Michelle "D'Angel" Downer, Bounty Killa's ex-girlfriend and the pair set up the MAFIA House Production Company together. They have a son together, Marco Dean, born in November 2006. In June 2007, Beenie Man separated from his wife. In March 2010, they released the single "You Are My First" together, although (according to D'Angel) while still married they remained separate.

Lyrical Controversy

The lyrics to some of his songs have been criticized for inciting the murder of homosexuals. He was removed from the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards after protests by gay-rights activists. That same year, Beenie Man was stopped by police at Heathrow Airport in London, after the cancellation of a concert in England. He then issued an apology for the lyrics through his record company. In 2005, gay rights group OutRage! suspended their opposition to Beenie Man after he agreed not to play songs featuring homophobic lyrics, and he performed in London that year. The following year, he claimed his lyrics were anti-pedophilia, not against consensual homosexual relationships.

In 2007, it was reported that Beenie Man, along with several other artists, had signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, an agreement to cease performances of anti-gay material. He later denied that he had signed the act. As of 2010, protests have continued to cause cancellations of his concerts in some countries, including New Zealand, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

1983: ''The Invincible Beenie Man: The Incredible Ten Year Old DJ Wonder'' - Bunny Lee

1992: ''Cool Cool Rider'' - VP

1994: ''Dis Unu Fi Hear'' - High Tone

1994: ''Defend It'' VP

1994: ''Guns Out'' with Bounty Killer - Greensleeves

1995: ''Blessed'' - Island

1995: ''Maestro'' - Greensleeves & VP

1995: ''Mad Cobra Meets Lt. Stitchie & Beenie Man'' - VP

1997: ''Many Moods Of Moses'' - VP

1999: ''Y2K'' - Artists Only

1999: ''Ruff n Tuff''

1999: ''The Doctor'' - VP

2000: ''Art and Life'' - Virgin

2001: ''Black Liberty''

2001: ''Youth Quake''

2002: ''Tropical Storm''

2004: ''Back to Basics''

2006: ''Concept of Life''

2006: ''Hundred Dollar Bag''

2006: ''Undisputed''

2007: ''Monsters of Dancehall''

2009: ''The Legend Returns''

2011: ''TBA''

Compilations

1995: ''All the Best''

2000: ''Best of Beenie Man''

2002: ''Gold - The Very Best of'' - Charm

2005: ''Kingston to King of the Dancehall''

2005: ''Greatest Hits So Far''

Live albums

2004: ''Live in San Francisco''

Mixtapes and unofficial releases

2000: ''Trendsetter''

2004: ''Cool Cool Rider - The Roots of a Dancehall Don''

2006: ''Its Ah! Beenie (riddim mixtape)''

2007: ''Monsters of Dancehall''

Singles

1981: "Too Fancy"

1983: "Over the Sea"

1993: "Matie"

1995: "Slam"

1995: "Romie"

1995: "Old Dog"

1995: "Healing" (with Lady Saw)

1997: "Dancehall Queen" (with Chevelle Franklin)

1998: "Who Am I (Sim Simma)"

1998: "Tell Me"

2000: "Jungle Boogie" (featuring Sly and Robbie)

2000: "Love Me Now" (featuring Wyclef Jean)

2000: "Girls Dem Sugar" (featuring Mýa)

2002: "Fresh from Yard" (featuring Lil' Kim)

2002: "Feel It Boy" (featuring Janet Jackson)

2002: "Red Red Red" (with Robyn)

2003: "Street Life" (featuring Assia)

2003: "Bossman" (featuring Sean Paul and Lady Saw)

2004: "Dude" (featuring Ms. Thing and Shawnna)

2004: "King of the Dancehall"

2005: "Specialists" (featuring Vybz Kartel)

2006: "Girls" (featuring Akon)

2006: "Hmm Hmm"

2006: "Dreaming of You" (featuring Alaine)

2007: "Give It Up" (featuring Barbee)

2008: "Wine Gyal"

2008: "Pickney Nah Hold Yah Dung"

2008: "Gimme Gimme"

2010: "I'm Drinking/Rum & Red Bull"

Featured singles

1996: "Sound Clash" (Dream Warriors featuring Beenie Man)

1996: "Hands In the Air" (Doug E. Fresh featuring Beenie Man)

1999: "Outa Space (UFOs)" (Machel Montano featuring Beenie Man); album Any Minute Now

2000: "Money" (Jamelia featuring Beenie Man)

2001: "I'm Serious" (T.I. featuring Beenie Man)

2004: "Compton" (Guerilla Black featuring Beenie Man)

2005: "Soul on Fire" (KMC featuring Beenie Man)

2006: "Belly Danza" (Don Omar featuring Beenie Man)

2006: "Zingy" (Ak'Sent featuring Beenie Man)

2006: "Flow Natural" (Tito El Bambino featuring Deevani and Beenie Man)

2006: "Heaven Baby" (Brooke Hogan featuring Beenie Man)

2007: "Back It Up"

2008: "Better than Dem" (Natasja featuring Beenie Man)

2008: "Scorpion" (Nisha B. featuring Beenie Man)

2008: "Burnin' Burnin" (Ms. Triniti featuring Beenie Man)

2009: "Get It On" (Rasun featuring Beenie Man)

2009: "Giggle" (Busta Rhymes featuring Beenie Man)

2009: "Woman"

2009: "International" (Chali 2na featuring Beenie Man)

2009: "Pleasure" (2G featuring Beenie Man and Chris S)

Notes

References

Further reading

Wray, Milton: ''Who Am I?: The Untold Story of Beenie Man'', 2008, Great House/Omnimedia, Kingston, Jamaica, ISBN 978-9769519930

External links

Official website

Category:1973 births Category:People from Kingston, Jamaica Category:Virgin Records artists Category:Island Records artists Category:Dancehall musicians Category:Reggae fusion artists Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Jamaican reggae musicians Category:Living people Category:Sony/ATV Music Publishing artists Category:Pseudonymous musicians

de:Beenie Man es:Beenie Man fr:Beenie Man it:Beenie Man ht:Beenie Man hu:Beenie Man ja:ビーニ・マン pl:Beenie Man sv:Beenie Man

Coordinates	40°37′29″N73°57′8″N
name	Admiral T
background	solo_singer
birth name	Christy Campbell
alias	Admiral T
born	March 29, 1981
origin	France (Guadeloupe)
genre	Reggae-Dancehall
occupation	Singer-songwriter, DJ, Actor, Designer, Fashion design, Record producer
years active	1993–present
label	Universal Music Group (AZ)Don S Music EntertainmentMozaik Kreyol (MK)
associated acts	Karukera Sound System • Wyclef Jean • Rohff • Kassav' • Diam's • TOK • Nèg'Marrons • Wyckyd J • Bost & Bim
website	Official site of Admiral T
notable instruments	Gwo Ka, Guitar }}

Admiral T, whose real name is Christy Campbell, is a French singer of reggae-dancehall music. Besides Francky Vincent, he is one of most popular and successful Guadeloupean singers. He is also a designer and the creator of WOK LINE.

Biography

Born in 1981 on the French island of Guadeloupe, he was one of two children. At the age of 6, he joined the dancehall group Karukera Sound System; he left the group in 1982 to start a solo career; releasing his first album ''Mozaïk Kréyòl''. During the sneak preview of Sean Paul at Bercy in 2004 he outperformed him and drew much attention to himself. Universal Music Group's delegates who attended this concert decided to sign Admiral T and re-released his album on Universal Records, featuring artists like Wyclef Jean or French rapper Rohff. It became a hit in the West Indies and Europe, especially in France.

In 2005, Admiral T appeared in the film ''Nèg Maron''. The following year he released his second album, ''Toucher L'Horizon'', which also gained commercial success and has been awarded by a Césaire of Music in October 2006. He spent much of 2007 in France, London and the West Indies on his "Fos A Péyi La" Tour (title of his song with Kassav'). Admiral T won a Skyrock Music Award in December 2007 and a Virgin Award in February 2008. He launched his own clothing line WOK LINE and made a new tour in Africa during 2008. He is also the producer of the newcomer reggae-dancehall singer Wyckyd J. Admiral T performed Summerjam in Germany and World Creole Music Festival in England for 2009. He releases his 3rd album ''Instinct Admiral'' on 19 April 2010. There are featuring of Machel Montano, Busy Signal, La Fouine, Médine, Young Chang MC, Lieutenant, Patrick Saint-Éloi, Fanny J and Awa Imani.

Discography

Albums

''Mozaïk Kréyòl'' (2003 and 2004)

''Toucher L'Horizon'' (2006)

''Instinct Admiral'' (2010)

Singles

''Gwadada'' (2002)

''Dancehall X-Plosion'', featuring Pearl (2004)

''Les Mains En L'Air'', featuring Diam's (2006)

''Fos a Péyi La'', featuring Kassav' (2007)

''Viser La Victoire'', featuring La Fouine and Medine (2010)

Mixtapes

''Mek It Happen'' (2002)

''Killa Session'' (2002)

''Ti Moun Ghetto'' (2004)

''Determiné Dèpi Piti'' (2005)

''Flagada Smokey'' (2006)

''Dancehall Festival'' (2006)

''Good To Mixx vol.2'' (2006)

''The Big Champion'' (2006)

''Reyel Champion Soti Gwada'' (2007)

''Ti Moun Ghetto 2'' (2007)

''The King Of The Dancefloor'' (2007)

Compilations

''Ragga Kolor'' (2002)

''Dancehall Clash'' (2002)

''Ragga Dancehall N°1'' (2003)

''Groovin Attitude'' (2004)

''Ragga Masters'' (2004)

''Génération Rap RnB vol. 2'' (2004)

''Exclusif Admiral T'' (2005)

''Ninety Seven K-Ribbean'' (2005)

''Unis-Sons'' (2005)

''Reggae Bashement'' (2006)

''Total Reggaeton 2'' (2006)

''Generation Dancehall'' (2007)

''Rap & R'n'B Non Stop'' (2007)

''Coupé Décalé Mania'' (2007)

''BexXx Cluzif'' (2008)

''Too Much Gangsta'' (2008)

''Good Times'' (2008)

''Mesrine'' (2008)

''Don's Collector Saison 3'' (2008)

''Soprano Riddim'' (2008) (produced by Bost & Bim)

Contributions

''1848'' of Karukera Sound System (1998)

''Special Request'' of Karukera Sound System (2000)

''Welcome to Haiti'' of Wyclef Jean (2004)

''La Fierté Des Notres'' of Rohff (2004)

''Caribbean Sessions'' of Karukera Sound System (2005)

''Ma vision'' of Saël (2005)

''Émancipé'' of Vibe (2005)

''Dans Tes Rêves'' of Disiz La Peste (2005)

''Soné Ka-La'' of Jacques Schwarz-Bart (2006)

''Face A La Réalité'' of Saik (2007)

''Les Liens Sacrés'' of Nèg'Marrons (2008)

''In Transit'' of Ziggi (2008)

Filmography

Films

''Nèg Maron'' of Jean-Claude Flamand Barny (2005)

''Le Mur du Silence'' of Jean-Claude Flamand Barny (2009)

Concerts

''Le Grand Méchant Zouk'' (2006)

''Fos a Péyi La Tour'' (2007)

Reportages

''Mozaïk Kréyòl'' (2004)

''Toucher L'Horizon'' (2006)

''Dancehall Story'' (2008)

Clips

''Rapide'' (1998)

''Pas Comme Les Autres'', featuring Saël (2000)

''Rendez-Vous'', featuring Curtis (2000)

''Youth Attack'', featuring Curtis (2001)

''So Strong'', Savage Riddim (2002)

''Otantik'', Hum Riddim (2002)

''Le Bien Et Le Mal'', featuring Tiwony & Curtis (2002)

''Gwadada'' (2002)

''Lov''', featuring Little Espion (2003)

''Rèv An Mwen'' (2003)

''Move Together'', featuring Square One (2003)

''Dancehall X-Plosion'', featuring Pearl (2004)

''Ok'', featuring Saik (2004)

''Mets Nous A L'Aise'', featuring Saël (2005)

''Lanmou Épi Respè'' (2006)

''Fos A Péyi La'', featuring Kassav' (2006)

''Les Mains En L'Air'', featuring Diam's (2006)

''Ti Moun Ghetto'' (2007)

''Pé La'', featuring Jacques Schwarz-Bart (2008)

Webography

Official Site of Admiral T Official Skyblog of Admiral T Official MySpace of Admiral T Official Site of Wok Line Official Skyblog of Wok Line Official MySpace of Wok Line

References

[ Admiral T] at Allmusic.com

Category:French reggae musicians Category:Dancehall musicians Category:French dance musicians Category:French rappers Category:French male singers Category:Guadeloupean musicians Category:1981 births Category:Living people

es:Admiral T fr:Admiral T it:Admiral T ht:Admiral T pl:Admiral T

Coordinates	40°37′29″N73°57′8″N
Name	Vybz Kartel
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Adidja Palmer
Alias	Addi Di Teacha, Gaza Emperor, World Boss
Born	January 07, 1976Kingston, Jamaica
Origin	Portmore, Jamaica
Genre	ReggaeDancehallReggae fusion
Occupation	Deejay, Songwriter, Entrepreneur, Lyricist, Producer
Years active	2000–present
Label	Adidjaheim Records, NotNice Production
Associated acts	Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Aidonia Elephant Man, Ninjaman, Alliance, Portmore Empire, Major Lazer & Popcaan, Kano, Vanessa Bling
Website	Vybz Kartel's MySpace

Adidja Palmer (born January 7, 1976), better known as Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican dancehall artist, songwriter and businessman. He has many nicknames, including Addi the Teacher and Gaza Emperor.

Biography

Adidja Palmer (Addi Teacha) began his career as a teenager in 1993, with his first recording "Love Fat Woman", his first single, released on Alvin Reid's label "One Heart", using the moniker "Adi Banton", a homage to Buju Banton. Palmer was later part of the three-member group "Vybez Cartel", keeping the slightly altered name after group split up, and became a protege of Bounty Killer, for whom he claims to have written nearly 30 songs, including "Gal Clown".

Vybz Kartel rose to prominence in 2003 after a string of hits in Jamaica. The year culminated in a pre-planned on-stage clash with Ninjaman at the annual dancehall festival Sting in Kartel's hometown of Portmore. The clash turned violent when Kartel's crewmembers, as well as Kartel himself, threw punches and assaulted Ninjaman onstage. While Kartel's manager initially blamed Ninjaman for the fracas, Kartel himself quickly apologised to Ninjaman and Sting organizers for the fracas. Four days after the incident, the two artists appeared before the press to announce a settlement of their differences and to end any animosity.

He established his own label Adidjahiem/Notnice Records with his business partner and producer Ainsley "Notnice" Morris. In 2010, he released his album ''Pon Di Gaza 2.0'' on Adidjahiem/Notnice Records in collaboration with Tads Record Inc. In Spring 2011, Kartel is scheduled to release a still-unnamed album with Brooklyn Hip Hop/Electro producer Dre Skull.

Kartel has worked on collaborations and remixes with Hip Hop and R&B; musicians Jay-Z, Rihanna, Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, M.I.A, Pharrell, Kardinal Offishal, Akon, Jim Jones and Eminem.

In 2009 he had two international hits with “Ramping Shop” debuting on the Billboard Top 100 Singles charts, and “Dollar Sign” being in regular rotation on urban radio stations in the US. His 2010 single "Clarks" was one of his biggest international successes, remaining in the top 3 Reggae Singles gaining the most radio plays in North America for 40 weeks. "Clarks" was also featured on the TV series ''So You Think You Can Dance Canada'', and on a CNN segment on Dancehall dance. MTV's ''Vice Guide to Dancehall'' featured Kartel at his weekly dance party, Street Vybz Thursday.

After splitting with Bounty Killer-led Alliance in 2006, Kartel founded the Portmore Empire, a group of Dancehall deejays and singers from his Portmore neighborhood that he signed to his newly founded Adidjahiem/Notnice Records. Current members of the group are: Popcaan, Shawn Storm, Sheba, Indu, Tommy Lee, Singing Maxwell, Singa Blinga, Lenny Mattic. Former members include Lisa Hype, Gaza Kim, Black Ryno, Jah Vinci, Deejay Spice, Doza Medicine and Merital.

Feud with Mavado

Towards the end of 2006, Vybz Kartel left the Alliance. Tensions arose following Kartel's continued association with Bounty Killer's longtime enemy, Beenie Man, including Kartel attending Beenie Man's wedding to Bounty Killer's ex-girlfriend, D'Angel. Vybz Kartel cited his departure as being due to his desire to be a more independent artist. It was reported that Vybz and Bounty Killer performed together ahead of the annual Sting show. Due to Kartel's defection from the Alliance and his 'parring' (fraternising) with Beenie Man, a series of songs and counteraction songs ensued - the main proponents being Kartel and Mavado.

A very public feud between Vybz Kartel and former collaborator Mavado arose towards the end of 2006, stemming from Vybz' much publicized departure from the dancehall conglomerate group, The Alliance. The feud resulted in numerous diss-tracks released, in which each artist dissed the other and their associates over popular dancehall rhythms. In a police-overseen press conference in March 2007, both Mavado and Vybz Kartel publicly announced an end to hostilities and apologized to fans.

However, by the summer of 2008, tensions flared with a renewal of "diss tracks" from each artist, and a lyrical clash between the two at Sting 2008 left mixed views as to the "winner". Most of 2009 saw a continuation of the public feud, which dominated Jamaican media and, to a certain extent, Jamaican culture, with the two artists' factions, ''Gaza'' (Kartel) and ''Gully'' (Mavado), being adopted by Jamaican youth, in some cases leading to street violence.

On December 8, 2009, Kartel and Mavado met with Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding in an attempt to end the feud, which had by that time fueled mob attacks in some of the inner-city neighborhoods of Kingston. The two had performed together on-stage the previous night in a sign of goodwill at the West Kingston Jamboree, a concert promoted by area leader Christopher "Dudus" Coke. After the truce in December 2009, the two artists were scheduled to perform a unity concert March 2010 in Barbados, which was later cancelled by the prime minister of that country.

Business

In 2008, Vybz Kartel launched his own liquor line Street Vybz Rum. He hosts a weekly dance party Street Vybz Thursday, at the Building, Kingston nightclub he manages with Street Vybz Rum business partner Corey Todd. The rum is officially distributed by Vybz Distillers Limited. The same year, he also released his own condom line, Daggering Condoms. Kartel's goal for 2011 is to release his own shoe line named Addi's, as well as his own line of "cake soap".

When his singles "Clarks", "Clarks 2 (Clarks Again)" and "Clarks 3 (Wear Weh Yuh Have)" featured the British shoe brand Clarks in 2010, its sales numbers and prices in Jamaica increased considerably.

Controversy

Kartel has come under controversy over perceived skin whitening, or "bleaching", leading him to claim to the use of "cake soap" to lighten his skin. The Blue Power Group, Jamaican manufacturer of the popular cake soap (or "blue soap") has refuted claims it changes skin colour. Kartel then stated the soap used to lighten his skin was his own brand, which he intends to release on the local market.

Awards

Kartel has had several collaborations with international hip hop and pop stars. He has released two albums for the UK/US based label Greensleeves Records. He was also nominated for the Source, VIBE and UK MOBO awards, although his 2004 UK MOBO award nomination was withdrawn amidst controversy over allegedly homophobic content of his lyrics.

2003

* Stone Love's 30th Anniversary

** DJ of the Year

2008

* CUMA (Caribbean Urban Music Awards)

2009

EME Awards

** Male DJ of the Year

** Lyricist/Songwriter of the Year

** Song of the Year (Romping Shop ft. Spice)

2010

EME Awards

** Male DJ of the Year

** Lyricist/Songwriter of the Year

** Recording Artist of the Year

WBLS Caribbean Artiste of the Year

Nominated by the MOBO Awards and Soul Train Awards for Reggae Artist of the Year.

References

External links

The Kartel Business - A look at Vybz Kartel as an Entrepreneur

Vybz Kartel, one of the baddest DJs

Vibes Kartel| Vybz Kartel| Fastest Growing Dancehall Artist in the Caribbean

Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:People from Kingston, Jamaica Category:Dancehall musicians Category:Reggae fusion artists Category:Jamaican reggae musicians

da:Vybz Kartel de:Vybz Kartel fr:Vybz Kartel it:Vybz Kartel ht:Vybz Kartel

The Elephant Man may be a reference to:

;People

Joseph Carey Merrick (1862–1890), Englishman known as "The Elephant Man" because of his physical appearance caused by a congenital defect

Gyles Mackrell, British tea planter known for organising elephants to rescue refugees during World War II

Elephant Man (musician), real name O'Neil Bryan (b. 1975), Jamaican musician

Huang Chuncai, "China's Elephant Man"

;Entertainment

''The Elephant Man'' (play), a 1977 Broadway play by Bernard Pomerance

''The Elephant Man'' (film), a 1980 film directed by David Lynch

''The Elephant Man'' (TV film), a 1982 television adapted by Steve Lawson and directed Jack Hofsiss

Elephantmen, fictional characters in the comic book series of the same name, published by Image Comics

''The Elephant Man's Alarm Clock'', a 2006 album by Buckethead

"Elephant Man", a song by English band Suede from the 1999 album ''Head Music''

es:El hombre elefante fr:Elephant Man ko:디 엘리펀트 맨 (동음이의) nl:The Elephant Man ja:エレファント・マン sv:Elefantmannen