Beenie Man

Bio:
Beenie Man (born Anthony Moses Davis on August 22, 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica) is a Jamaican reggae dancehall recording artist. Beenie was born in the Waterhouse district of Kingston, growing up in the music industry. He started rapping (“toasting”) at the age of five after being encouraged by his uncle, drummer Sydney Knowles. After winning the Tastee Talent contest in 1981, he christened himself as Beenie Man. His first single, “Too Fancy,” was released in 1981. What followed was three decades in reggae. His debut album, The Invincible Beenie Man, was released in 1983. He put his music career on hold to finish school and travel to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. He returned to the scene in the 1990s. In 1994, he released his popular record, Blessed, which established him as an international dancehall reggae star. He collaborated with Janet Jackson in 2002, with his hit “Feel It Boy,” the same year he worked with Lil Kim on “Fresh From Yard.” In 2004, he crowned himself “King of the Dancehall” with the song of the same name. Beenie has come under fire for his lyrics, as many incite the murder of homosexuals. He issued an apology in 2005, claiming his lyrics were anti-pedophilia, but in 2012, he apologized to the gay community for his lyrics. Beenie is also known for his long-standing feud with Yellow Man.

Best Known For:
Beenie Man is best known as a Dancehall reggae musician.

Personal Life:
Beenie reportedly converted to the Rastafari movement in 1994, but he claimed in 2005 that this was untrue. He married Michelle “D’Angel” Downler in Aug. 2006. They had a son together, Marco Dean Davis. In 2007, they separated and in 2011, formally divorced. In 2016, Beenie Man cancelled an OVO Fest appearance after he contracted the Zika Virus.