Beenie Man barred by Shabba Ranks in Trinidad
Dancehall star Beenie Man was reportedly barred from performing in Trinidad on Saturday because veteran deejay Shabba Ranks allegedly threw a tantrum when he heard that Beenie had been added to the lineup.
The King of the Dancehall was contacted by Island Mix promoters to cover for Barrington Levy who was forced to cancel the event due to illness. Shabba, who was originally billed for the event dubbed Unplugged, allegedly demanded Beenie Man’s removal from the event.
When Beenie Man was contacted, he said no comment.
Other entertainers who were billed for Trinidad’s Unplugged held on Saturday include Cobra, Tanya Stephens, Maxi Priest, Chakka Demus and Pliers among others.
The major reason that Beenie and Shabba could have beef could stem from a television interview where Beenie Man was asked if anybody else could get the massive turnout that greeted Shabba at the airport in 2012 before Reggae Sumfest. At the time, Beenie Man replied “of course, anybody can get that, you haffi just pay for it.”
Beenie Man believes that his comment may have been taken out of context.
“I was saying that to do a motorcade costs money because you have to pay for transportation to take persons to the location and back home. It takes money to organise that. I was not saying that people were paid to go see Shabba,” Beenie Man said.
In 2012, Ninja Man went to the press and said that he believes that the comment shows that Beenie Man is jealous of Shabba.
“A me buss Shabba, so from you dis Shabba, you dis me. Shabba do work whe nuff artiste never do yet. Him leave Jamaica and give di artiste dem space fi make money. Beenie Man a talk bout how a buy di man buy him motorcade when him come a Jamaica, Beenie Man you badmind Shabba. You too bad-mind,” Ninja Man
