Bounty Killer & Beenie Man `rules’ Reggae Sumfest 2019 Festival Night 1 — WATCH

Bounty Killer and Beenie Man stamp their authority at Reggae Sumfest Dancehall Night with some friendly fire.

Let’s go back to 1993 where Beenie Man and Bounty Killer went at it for the first time on stage at Sting. The young, energetic deejays were the toast of the town at the time with a fierce rivalry which not only divided dancehall but the country in general. To think I was born in 1993 and the rivalry between the two legends is still relevant in today’s dancehall. From making up countless times to their inevitable falling outs, these two giants have kept us entertained and are arguably the two most important columns of dancehall music.

When Reggae Sumfest team announced that Bounty Killer and Beenie Man would be on stage together in the form of a friendly clash, dancehall fans went crazy. The two best live performers in the industry would lock horns again on Sumfest stage as they did in 1995. This was Catherine Halls second time welcoming the giants on stage as they did a friendly clash in 1995 as aforementioned.

Let me tell you, last night was as great as any encounter that has ever happened between Bounty and Beenie. Both have extreme mastery of the craft which they gained from experience, and it showed. Beenie dropped a bomb, and Bounty dropped a bomb, was the theme of night. Countless exchanges of 25 years with of hits was treat for all in attendance.

The King of Dancehall came out clad in white as he did in 1993 and the Dancehall General Bounty Killer came clad in black for the friendly burial. This was the highlight of a star-studded night, living legends going at it as the young guns should be. Their command of the band, stage and crowd show us that our young artistes have some way to go in terms of entertaining audiences live. This experience cannot be described adequately with words. You’ll have to see it to believe it.

Story by J.D Smith