Beenie Man

Mentored by his uncle Sydney Knowles, who was also Jimmy Cliff’s drummer, Beenie Man began toasting at age five. ∙ At age 19, he had his coming-out party when he blew away the crowd at 1992’s Reggae Sunsplash. ∙ Two years after starting a public beef with established DJ Bounty Killer, Beenie and his rival made up and released the 1994 split album Guns Out. ∙ On the Sly & Robbie-produced single “No Mama No Cry,” a version of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry,” Beenie railed against violence following the murder of DJ Pan Head. ∙ After he was signed by Island Records, which had brought Bob Marley’s music to the world, the label released his critical breakthrough, 1995’s Blessed. ∙ Beenie picked up the Best Reggae Album Grammy Award for 2000’s Art & Life, featuring Kelis, Mýa, Redman, and Fugees’ Wyclef Jean.