Grammy award-winning Jamaican reggae artist Anthony Moses Davis, better known by his stage name Beenie Man, was born August 22, 1973 in the Waterhouse district of Kingston, Jamaica. He started his music career at the very early age of five when he began toasting (deejaying) and received the support of his uncle, Sydney Knowles, drummer for Jimmy Cliff.
Early local success
The radio deejay Barry G introduced Davis to local sound system operators after he won the Tastee Talent Contest in 1981. It was during this time that Davis became known as “Beenie Man.” Henry “Junjo” Lawes produced his debut single “Too Fancy” in 1981. Lawes also included him on the 1983 album “Junjo Presents Two Big Sounds,” which featured the established stars Dillinger, Fathead, and Ringo.
In 1983, Bunny Lee produced his first album, “The Invincible Beenie Man: The Ten Year Old DJ Wonder.” The same year saw the release of “Over the Sea,” Beenie Man’s first hit single. In 1984, he recorded with Barrington Levy and then placed his music career on hold while he completed school.
International dancehall star on the rise
In the early 1990s, Beenie Man returned to music and performed with top dancehall artists like Ninjaman, Admiral Bailey and Shabba Ranks. He recorded at Shocking Vibes studio throughout the 1990s, and his career really took off after his performance at Reggae Sumfest in 1992.
Beenie Man’s first Number One single in Jamaica came in 1993 with “Matie.” Island Records signed him in 1994, and his international reputation was confirmed with the critically praised album ”Blessed.” He collaborated with many top reggae and dancehall stars during the 1990s and became popular in the United States with his hits “Romie“, “Who Am I“, and “Girls Dem Sugar“, with the American R&B singer, Mýa.
MOBO Awards
In 1997, Beenie Man won a Music of Black Origin (MOBO) award for Best International Reggae Act, his first international recognition. The MOBOs, the British version of the BET Awards, are an annual awards ceremony honouring black music excellence across several categories to include reggae and hip-hop.
Over the years, he would go on to win four of six total MOBO nominations: 1998 Best International Reggae Act, 2000 Best Video for ‘Money’ with British Singer Jamelia, and 2000 and 2001 for Best Reggae Act.
Grammy’s and beyond
Beenie Man received his first Grammy Award nomination for his ‘The Doctor’ album in the Best Reggae Album category in 1999. In 2000, he received another nomination for ‘Many Moods of Moses’, won the 2001 Grammy Award for “Art & Life,” and received another nomination in 2024 for his latest project, ‘Simma,” which is a testament to his longevity and staying power.
In the early to mid 2000’s Beenie man released a string of hits to include “Feel It Boy” with global pop superstar Janet Jackson off his 15th studio album, ‘Tropical Storm,’ in 2002 which went gold in Australia. 2003 saw Beenie Man continuing to ride the waves of success with hits including “Street Life” and “Dude.
Contributions to Jamaican music recognised
At the 2024, Beenie Man and Bounty Killa both received the Order of Distinction, Jamaica’s 6th-Highest National Honour, for their contributions to the development and global popularity of Jamaican music and specifically Dancehall at the 2024 Independence Day Grand Gala at the National Stadium.
Throughout his 30-year career, Beenie Man has remained relevant and a staple of the international music scene. A musical chameleon, he has successfully transitioned from a local artist of note to a global reggae icon, whose music has served as an inspiration to many up-and-coming acts across musical genres and nationalities.
@jarredjermaine Showing you the evolution of a song lyric from Beenie Man “Who Am I (Sim Simma)” #beenieman #simsimma #lyric #lyrics #music ♬ Who Am I – Beenie Man
Moses Davis will go down in history as one of the greatest all-rounder reggae acts of all time.