The document discusses two reggae artists - Dennis Brown, a well-known name in traditional reggae, and Beenie Man, a prominent dancehall/bashment artist. It provides biographical details and career highlights for both artists, including Brown's early success recording for Studio One and hit singles in the 1970s, as well as Beenie Man's rise to fame in dancehall in the 1990s despite some controversies over homophobic lyrics.

1. It was my decision to do two artists within
the reggae genre, one is a big name in the
dancehall/bashment sub-genre and the
other a well known name in traditional
reggae.

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Dennis Brown CD ( Order of Distinction) was born on the 1st of February 1957. He died on the 1st of July
1999 at the age of 42.
He was born Jubilee Hospital in Kingston Jamaica. His father was a scriptwriter, actor and journalist and
grew up in a large tenement yard with his three brothers and sister. Brown’s mother died three years
after his birth. Brown began his singing career while he was still in primary school, at the age of nine
with an end of term concert. It was the first time he had performed even though he had a keen interest
in music from a younger age. Brown was known to be a fan of balladeers such as Sam Cooke, Frank
Sinatra and Brook Benton. He cited that Nat King Cole was one of his major influences. Brown’s first
professional performance came at the age of eleven.
Brown recorded 30 songs for the Studio One label by twelve. The single “No man is an Island” received
steadily increasing airplay for a year before becoming a huge it in the whole of Jamaica. The first and
only instrument Brown owned (and could play) was a guitar as those involved with label thought it
would boost his song writing skills. He continued to record a number of songs for different producers,
the majority of which were regarded as hits and put into a Reggae and Soul Hits album in the early
70’s. At this stage of his career, Brown was still at school.
In 1972, Brown recorded an album for Joe Gibbs, the track “Money in my Pocket” launched him to
international success. It was extremely popular amongst UK reggae fans and quickly became his most
coveted live performance. In the same year he was voted Jamaica’s top male vocalist in Swing
magazine.
Due to his commercial success, Brown signed an international deal with A&M Records (based in the
UK). The label had taken his music into a more pop commercial style and his time with them didn’t
bring him much success. Meanwhile, in his homeland a new type of reggae, dancehall, was sweeping
the nation. He enthusiastically adapted to the new sound and found more success. He started his own
record label called Yvonne’s Special, dedicated to his wife.
In the late 1990’s, his health began to deteriorate. He developed respiratory issues made worse by his
long term addiction to crack cocaine. On the 30th of June he was rushed into hospital due to a cardiac
arrest. A day later, he died of a collapsed lung.

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Anthony Moses Davis, better known by his stage name Beenie Man, is a Grammy award winning
Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist born August 22nd in 1973.. He is reputed as the “King of
Dancehall.”
Born Waterhouse district of Kingston in 1973. He was involved in the music industry from a young age,
starting toasting at the age of five, and was encouraged by his uncle Sydney Knowles, who played
drums for Jimmy Cliff. He won the Tastee Talent contest in 1981, and Radio DJ Barry G introduced him
to local sound system operators, who helped to establish the popularity of the young deejay, who
became known as Beenie Man.
He recorded his debut single, "Too Fancy", with record producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes in 1981, with
Lawes also including him on the 1983 album Junjo Presents Two Big Sounds alongside established
stars such as Dillinger, Fathead, and Ringo.
In 1984 Beenie Man recorded some material with Barrington Levy (released ten years later), but his
music career was put on hold while he finished school, and spent time travelling to the United
Kingdom, United States, and Canada.
Beenie Man continued performing and honed his craft beside the then dominant dancehall figures
including Ninjaman, Admiral Bailey and Shabba Ranks. He found his artistic home at the Shocking
Vibes studio where he continued to record singles with only moderate success in the early 1990s. His
career gained momentum after a performance at the Reggae Sunsplash festival in 1992, and a rivalry
with Bounty Killer began the following year after Beenie Man was accused of stealing Bounty Killer's
style and catch phrases. The rivalry was captured on the 1994 album Guns Out, with the two artists
settling the feud with a soundclash. Beenie Man had his first number one single in Jamaica in 1993 with
"Matie", and he won the DJ of the Year Award the same year, the first of eight consecutive awards.
The lyrics to some of his songs have been criticized for inciting the murder of homosexuals. He was
removed from the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards after protests by gay-rights activists.That same year,
Beenie Man was stopped by police at Heathrow Airport in London, after the cancellation of a concert in
the United Kingdom.] He then issued an apology for the lyrics through his record company. In 2005,
gay rights group OutRage! suspended their opposition to Beenie Man after he agreed not to play songs
featuring homophobic lyrics, and he performed in London that year. The following year, he claimed his
lyrics were anti-paedophilia, not against consensual homosexual relationships.

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Studio One is one of Jamaica’s most renowned record labels and
recording studios, having been described as the Mowtown of
Jamaica. The record label was involved with most of the major music
movements in Jamaica during the 1960’s and 70’s including reggae,
ska, rocksteady, dub and dancehall. It one of the most known
reggae record labels worldwide.
Studio One was founded by Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in 1954, and
the first recordings were cut in 1963 on Brentford Road in Kingston.
Amongst its earliest records were "Easy Snappin'" by Theophilus
Beckford, backed by Clue J & His Blues Blasters, and "This Man is
Back" by trombonist Don Drummond.
The record label released and recorded a number of tracks. They
also had a huge role in the development of many world renowned
reggae artists such as: Bob Marley and the Wailers, Dennis Brown,
Sugar Minott, Freddie McGregor and Alton Ellis.