Beenie Man Really Sorry, Mon
by Charlie Amter
Aug 5, 2004, 7:40 AM PT

http://www.eonline.com/Ne...55,00.html


Sometimes saying you're sorry just isn't enough.

Jamaican dancehall superstar Beenie Man issued an apology via Virgin Records' PR department Tuesday to gay-rights groups who complained that the rapper's songs incite violence against homosexuals.

"While my lyrics are very personal, I do not write them with the intent of purposefully hurting or maligning others, and I offer my sincerest apologies to those who might have been offended, threatened or hurt by my songs," Beenie Man said in the statement.

But U.K.-based gay rights organization Outrage! is less than moved by the "apology." "He doesn't say who is is apologizing to, or what he is apologizing for," spokesman Peter Tatchell told the Associated Press Wednesday.

Further, Outrage! asserts on its Website that Clyde McKenzie, head of public relations for Beenie Man's management company, Shocking Vibes, told Radio Jamaica that the statement was "not an apology" and that it was initiated by Virgin Records, not by Beenie Man. The group at the forefront of the crusade against Beenie Man, who has song titles like "Bad Man Chi Chi Man (Bad Man, Queer Man)," said that Beenie reserved his right to bash "the homosexual lifestyle," which the singer was not down with.

"The so-called apology seems to be nothing more than a PR stunt dreamt up by Virgin Records to stave off protests against Beenie Man in the lucrative European and North American markets. But in Jamaica--where an apology would do the most good--Beenie Man's PR machine is pulling out all the stops to disassociate him from the Virgin Records statement," said another Outrage! spokesman.

While the apology may be in dispute, Jamaican culture's homophobic leanings are not.

According to an article published in London's Guardian newspaper Monday, various International human-rights groups have described Jamaica as one of the most homophobic places on Earth.

Adding fuel to the fire is Jamaican dancehall music, a fusion of American hip-hop and reggae rhythms. The dancehall culture seems to bring out the more masculine, boastful side of men in Jamaica, a sort of natural breeding ground for homophobia on wax.

Beenie Man has taken most of the heat from gay groups like Outrage! recently for his lyrics, although many dancehall artists from Yellowman to Shaba Ranks have casually dropped the occasional slang reference (Batty Boy) towards gay men into songs for years.

The 30-year-old Virgin artist's song that has drawn the most ire of gay groups is Beenie's "Damn," which contains the line: "I’m dreaming of a new Jamaica, come to execute all the gays."

"This is not about making homophobic comments," Tatchell told AP yesterday. "It's incitement to murder, which is a criminal offense…he is still profiteering from his murder music."

Outrage! successfully blocked a few of Beenie Man's European dates recently, but they have been largely unsuccessful in stopping the Jamaican from performing in the U.S., where he is currently on a 24-city tour (he plays tonight in Boston), according to Pollstar.com.

Beenie Man's latest release, Back to Basics, was released July 20 on Virgin Records.

gosh, i feel so much better about his "kill the homos" sentiments now. i feel like i could just call beenie man up on the phone and talk like girlfriends.

puhhh-leeeze. donate some of those song royalties to the Anti-Violence Project or somethin' and MAYBE we can talk.

Anxiety said:

Preach.

If his lyrics were something like Kill all white People or whomever...Virgin would not have let that get on the shelves. I am disgusted that gays are like the last in a chain of discrimination and that it's still tolerated to this day. Kill homos is covered by free speech...well so are a lot of things.

Haven't we moved passed this? I suppose some cultures haven't and some people feel the need to say hateful things in music today.

[sarcasm] Ah, so this "apology" had NOTHING whatsoever to do with pressure from Virgin [/sarcasm]

I would respond but someone like him deserves no recognition whatsoever.

Dam*, did they 'make' him do that shi*? Come on now...
[This message was edited Thu Aug 5 19:58:08 2004 by Starmist7]

I'd like him to apologise for the shit music next, and then get the fuck out of the industry.

I'm not familiar with this guy, but even I don't buy his apology. What a loser.

Starmist7 said:

yes shit it was... it was nothing like an apology.

"Shit music"???? You mussi outta ya BUMBOCLAAT mind...You have something against reggae & dancehall? You don't have to agree with his stance on buggering, but damn...The man is a dancehall reggae legend....He's been performing since the age of 8....I'm also tired of gay people comparing their "struggle" to the Black Civil Rights struggle of the 50's & 60's....That apology was from the offices of Virgin, because Beenie's management is denying the apology...I have nothing against gays, but damn the man has a right to his own opinions. Caribbean culture isn't exactly accepting of the gay lifestyle....Not an excuse, but an explanation. His latest release is bullshit, but the man has released well over 20 different albums! There's plenty of room for bullshit! LOL

PAPAROBBIE said:

point taken, although just like you said - people have a right to their own opinions. quite frankly, i'm tired of people referring to my sexuality as "buggering".

Some women like being buggered, too.

Cloudbuster said:

And some people just want a nice big order of onion rings from Bugger King.

Anxiety said:

/

It's fucking annoying tho', isn't it. These homophobes likely jack off to lesbian porn (what's that if it's not homosexuality?) and women being sodomized.

Sad hypocritical bastards.

PAPAROBBIE said:

denying the apology makes it even worse.

you are talking about 'opinions'. urging to kill gays is not an opinion to me.

and it doesn't end with an explanation.