From the Crate - Beenie Man - Art and LIfe

Welcome to the fourth instalment of the From the Crate series.

The album under the microscope today, is Beenie Man’s 2000 release, Art and Life. Featuring the likes of Wyclef Jean, Redman, Mya and Kelis, there is no doubt that this is an album full of rich talent, and what a treat the album is to liten to.

Beenie Man can probably be named the King of Dancehall. He released his first album at the age of ten, and since then he has bee a prolific recorder releasing over twenty albums. Dancehall is a very particular strain of reggae. Started in the late 1970s, it is characterised by raw reggae ‘riddims’, with a DJ rapping or ‘toasting’ over the beats. Boasting plenty of sythns and bangin’ beats, it is perhaps the party-fuelled younger brother of reggae.

After his beginnings in Jamaica, Beenie moved to the UK, and collaborated with the likes of Barrington Levy and Dennis Brown, and then moved to the USA to be signed with Virgin Records. From here he was able to collaborate with some of the labels top urban performers, as seen on this album.

Most definitely the standout track on the album is Love Me Now, which features Wyclef and Redman. Beenie’s delivery is truly electric, and is played-off beautifully with Wyclef’s soulful hook. Girls Dem Sugar featuring Mya is another fun party anthem, as is the suitably insane Crazy Notion. There is more of a latin feel on Tumble which features Arturo Sandoval, definitely a samba feel to this track.

Beenie’s style isn’t for everyone. Dancehall is quite different to reggae, as it is much faster, and doesn’t really deal with the recurrent themes found in reggae. However, on a summer’s day, with a BBQ cooking, cold beers, and suitable space to boogie, Art and Life is just the ticket.