Warning:
Art and Life is Beenie Man's "fusion" album--an attempt to stretch the boundaries of reggae. Those who like their dancehall straight up may find themselves unimpressed. The
Art Beenie has created sounds slightly artificial. It's extremely disconcerting to hear "de girls dem sugar" spouting off about "fake-a$$ n**@s," as he does on the "Hate Me Now"-esque "Haters and Fools."
Thematically, the album is all over the place with an emphasis on mainstream hip-hop and R&B. Apparently Beenie called in his favors for this one. Art features a whole heap of high-profile guest stars, who don't really add anything spectacular to the mix. Two better-deserving Jamaican vocalists could've easily replaced R&B princesses Mya and Kelis. Wyclef's "eclectic" persona is abrasive and Redman's contribution to "Love Me Now" actually manages to come off as offensive. On the plus side, Beenie and the Cherry Poppin' Daddies' Steve Perry score with "Ola," a groovy little reversal of Sugar Ray and Supercat's "Fly." --Rebecca Levine Amazon.com
 |  | He advocates the killing of gays |  |
In his music, Beenie Man advocates killing gays. More than
30 gays have been killed in Jamaica where he comes from.
His music has lots of influence there. In some cases mobs
sang his anti-gay songs while they killed a man who might have been gay.
When asked to apologize and change his ways he wrote a song about how he
would not apologize. If someone advocated the killing
of Blacks or Jews, they would not be tolerated. It seems strange
that in the 21st century the world still tolerates someone
who advocates the killing of gays. Please don't support him by
purchasing his music.
January 30, 2007 | | Its the way he was raised | |
I have a review rebuttal for mr. vaggerot! why do you f_ing care? yah ill admitt hes homophobic but tell me a jamaican who isnt! Im a jamaican so i know how homophobic we are but its his right to express himself however the f he wants! Great album! but n e ways i would apreciate it if you would learn the lingo before you critisize his lyrics ( he means "turn" gay). Most jamaicans are raised to "bun di Chi Chi" so what ? let him say what he wants to say and stop worrying about what beenie man says in his songs.Heres an idea spend your time do something worthwhile like feeding africa or fight for world peace.P.S let Artists colaborate with who they want to. they werent forced. Buy the album if your jamaican, if your not go hug "chi chi" andstop whining about his vies and good music!! peace ONE LOVE
March 2, 2006| | | The most homophobic artist alive | |
People seem to look past Beenie Man's extremely homophobic lyrics. In the song "Damn", Beenie Man states "Well I'm think of a new Jamaica, me come to executve all of the gays". How can he get away with saying something like this. Eminem got so much attention for his homophobic lyrics on his sophomore album, but at least his lyrics weren't as serious and homocidal as this. Eminem just made jokes. Eminem kind of got the reputation of saying crazy things. Threatening to murder his wife, talking about raping his mother, people learned that Eminem was known for saying outrageous things that obviously shouldn't be taken seriously. Eminem is like a comedian, Beenie Man is not. Plus, who did we see perform with Elton John??? Who gave Elton John a big a** hug after their performance??? Beenie Mans seems much more convincing when his homophobic and homo-homicidal lyrics are heard. Beenie Man has recorded numerous songs about his homophobic views, which are much more offensive than anything Eminem has ever said. Another song that supports this, is Beenie Man's "Bad Man, Chi Chi Man", which suggests that you should be proud if you are hederosexual ("If you nun chi chi man wave your right hand and [NO!], if you nun lesbian, wave your right hand and [NO!]"). The following lyric, is percieved to me as him stating that a gay man is actually worse than a murderer, and murderers go to jail and become gay men ("Some boy will go a jail fi murda tun badman chi chi man"). The word "tun", if precieved differently, can give an entire new meaning. Does he mean "ton" or "turn". If he means "ton", he could saying that a man should have the right to kill a "ton" of people who happen to be gay, and not go to jail. In of the verses he gives in the homosexual sterotypes (And yuh seh chi chi man have one special code / Now we see yuh inna video and a naked man pose / Yuh all a gi him money fi tek off him clothes). What the hell is this all about? All gay men aren't porno stars and strippers, what the hell. Out of all the gay people I know, I don't know ANY that are strippers or porno stars. All of these lyrics are much more offensive then Eminem jokingly saying "I was only checking the mail...get it..checking the male". Beenie Man is obviously a closed-minded homophobe, just like our president. I suggest to anyone who is NOT homophobic, AVOID Beenie Man's music. I still can't figure out how he was able to collaborate with Janet Jackson, whom has completely opposite views, as you can here in here song "Free Xone" in which she supports gay people and encourages people to be who they are and not follow any rules, as well as encouraging people to be excepting and open-minded of others. Janet must have been anaware of Beenie Man's homophobic, closed-minded, and intolerant views when she collaborated with him, on the song "Feel It Boy". Beenie Man has also collabrated with people like Wyclef Jean, Lil' Kim, Mya, Jon B., and others. All who I'm pretty sure aren't homophobic, but have no proof, I just hope that they aren't, and don't get the vibe that are. Yeah, so Lil' Kim says "faggot" and stuff, but she doesn't hate gay people. I read an article about how the gay community is so found of Lil' Kim, and she was interviewed about and didn't seem to have any type of problem with gay people. I know for a fact that neither Jon B. or Mya is homophobic. But anyway, that's kind of irrelevant, I just find it interesting that he's collaborated with all these people, when he's saying this crazy things that none of these artists agree with.
May 26, 2005 | | A Gateway Disc (3.5 Stars) | |
At the time this CD came out, I was dating a Jamaican woman. She pressed me to buy this album even though I was more of a Bob Marley fan. I wasn't really into dancehall. But Beenie Man changed my perspective. I know this isn't the purest form of dancehall reggae that one can purchase, but it was a tolerable initial sample for me. It spoon fed me small bits of dancehall in between all the hip hop influenced songs. Now I love dancehall. This album helped me get into it. This is a great starter album if you're not already heavy into dancehall reggae.
Personal Favorites: Haters & Fools, Ola feat. Steve Perry, Girls Dem Suga, Crazy Notion, Original Tune(probably the best song on the CD), Art & Life, Jamaica Way feat. Kelis, & Trus Me April 26, 2004
| | | Solid, but far from a classic | |
I bought this album about 2 years ago during the Christmas season at a local CD store in Wilkes-Barre. Every time I hear the title track, I always think its some kind of Christmas jingle. It is the best song on the album, but "Some Tonight" with Tanto Metro and Devonte is also good. So basically I go to track 9 then 15, hit the CD eject button, and throw it to the side.
December 16, 2002More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(22 reviews)