Beenie calls on Alliance - Requests Bounty, Mavado for 'Sizzle'
Leighton Levy, STAR Writer
Beenie Man says he has supported Bounty Killer's show, 'Saddle to the East', four times but Bounty has never been to 'Summer Sizzle'. - Colin Hamilton
It's not often that you would hear this in local dancehall circles, but Beenie Man would love to see Alliance members, Bounty Killer and Mavado, perform on his show.
The event, Beenie Man's Sizzle '08, is set for the Jamalco Sports Club in Clarendon on Indepen-dence Day, August 6.
"Mi really want Mavado on the show, but people a advise me otherwise," Beenie Man reveals to THE WEEKEND STAR. "But a music me a deal wid, and mi really feel say di man fi get a piece a di Sizzle. And it woulda nice if Killer come too." Four-love
He said he has been to Bounty Killer's show ('Saddle to the East') at least four times, but the Killer is yet to return the favour. "A four-love mi gone pan him," Beenie Man says, while admitting that the rift with the Bounty Killer-led Alliance still remains. "The only way we can come together is for you to support me like I support you. But I would really appreciate if them forward still."
The event is expected to boast a stellar line-up that includes Capleton, Coco Tea, Ninja Man, Mr Vegas, and many others who have confirmed their participation. Also down to perform will be the deejay's estranged wife, Michelle D'Angel Downer, whose recent public heated disputes with the deejay have reportedly cooled.
"She is very appreciative that they are on speaking terms and that's a very good vibe," said Cabel Jeffrey Stephenson of Free People Entertainment, promoters of Beenie Man's Sizzle. "To have her on the show would be showing Jamaica how people can come together after a bad time and work out their differences."
Bounty Killer has yet to respond to the invitation, THE WEEKEND STAR, has confirmed. "I have spoken to someone close to Bounty," said Stephenson, who added that Beenie Man has always been reaching out. "I was told that he was smiling. He did not say he was not doing it and he did not say that he was, so I will leave it at that."
Beenie Man, he said, has always had a lot of respect for Bounty and Mavado, but he is not sure that they take his request seriously. "If Bounty turns up - or any member of the Alliance - they will be well treated and catered for," Stephenson said.
Surprise
If they do show up, it would be a surprise to many. But surprises are nothing new to Beenie Man, who has had legendary wrestler Hulk Hogan, and R&B and Rap superstars Mya and Foxy Brown perform at his event in 2006.
Meantime, the deejay says the show means a lot to him, because it is about the celebration of his career that has so far spanned almost three decades. "It is always great to have a celebration. This year it's not my birthday but it is my 29th year in music and it is my birth month, so it is the perfect month to celebrate my achievements," he said.
"And the greatest achievement in life is to be known," Beenie said.