7 Reasons Beenie Man and Bounty Killer Had the Best Verzuz
On May 23, at 8p.m. EST, the best versus battle to date, and arguably the best that there will be, took place between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer. Seem like a bold statement? Do you need convincing? Here are 7 reasons Beenie Man and Bounty Killer had the best Verzuz battle.
In the best Verzuz battle, between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, over 400,000 people worldwide experienced a clash between two of Jamaica’s greatest and longest standing dancehall legends. The internet was set on fire by the battle between the dancehall greats and though the Verzuz battles that have already gone were excellent, it seems obvious that this battle between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer is the best Verzuz battle so far.
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What is Verzuz?
Weekends since lockdowns have started have changed greatly. Due to social distancing, people have been staying home and missing out on parties and social gatherings. Enter Swizz Beats and Timbaland to the rescue. They co-created the idea of a Verzuz, a play on the world versus, a musical duel where two musical artists would battle each other, song for song, in a challenge that’s reminiscent of old school hip hop battles.
People have been enjoying all the Verzuz battles, but there was a clear difference in the build up to the Verzuz battle between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer ever since it was announced.
What is a Verzuz battle?
A Verzuz battle is a musical battle, hosted on Instagram, between two musical artists, where they pull from their best hits to battle with each other. The Verzuz lasts for 20 rounds and fans score and determine the musician who is the winner (is better at entertaining and has the best hits). There have been several Verzuz battles so far, but it is clear that the clash between Beenie Man versus Bounty Killer has taken the Verzuz battle to an astronomical level and as such is the best Verzuz ever.
How great was the Beenie Man vs. Bounty Killer Verzuz Battle?
Well, no one cared about who the winner was or even if there was a winner. They were too interested in reminiscing and enjoying Jamaican dancehall hits and the on going banter between the two dancehall artists. More than anything, fans attending the Verzuz battle did not want it to come to an end.
The Backstory between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer
Beenie Man and Bounty Killer have been clashing (or having battles) since 1992. Growing up in Jamaica in the 90s, reggae and dancehall lovers had to pick a side between the two talented artists. You were either with Beenie Man or Bounty Killer.
Each of the two dancehall artists have nicknames based on the type of music that they mostly deliver. Beenie Man is known for producing music for women to dance or whine to (gyrate in a provocative motion), making him the Girls Dem Sugar, while Bounty Killer is known for having gun or bad man anthems, making him the Warlord.
For those of you who are not dancehall fans and who have limited knowledge on the two artists, here is a quick peek into the rise of two of Jamaica’s most well loved and respected dancehall artists.
Who is Beenie Man?
Beenie Man was born as Anthony Moses Davis on August 22, 1973. He comes from a solid musical background and began making music at an early age. His first album was completed when he was only 10. Throughout the years, Beenie Man has been known as the Doctor, but most consistently as the Girls Dem Sugar or in recent years, King of the Dancehall. He has released 18 albums and is loved worldwide for his dancing anthems.
Who is Bounty Killer?
Bounty Killer, born Rodney Basil Price, was born on June 12, 1972. Bounty rose to stardom with his bad man talk and killer lyrics. Bounty Killer also had a family history in music, as his father owned a sound system (collection of musical tools used to entertain at events). After an early start as a dj, Bounty Killer, after being shot by a stray bullet, decided to completely pursue music. Bounty Killer has released 13 albums and is widely respected for his work as the poor people's governor, because he makes music to showcase the life of poor Jamaicans and advocate for them.
Why was the Beenie Man versus Bounty Killer the Best Verzuz Battle?
There are 7 main reasons Beenie Man and Bounty Killer had the best Verzuz battle. If for some reason you missed the Verzuz battle between the two dancehall giants or need to see it again, here is the complete Verzuz battle : Beenie Man versus bounty Killer. As you watch or rewatch, you can see the 7 reasons their battle was the best in action.
Great Hits and Collaborations
The first reason this Verzuz battle between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer was the best is because of the great hits and collaborations. Both Beenie Man and Bounty Killer have had illustrious careers that have spanned decades and resulted in