‘Sizzla and I have no dispute’, Beenie Man says after Pepperseed incident
Despite online rumours that there is bad blood between veteran artistes Sizzla Kalonji and Beenie Man, the King of the Dancehall is refuting these claims and is assuring fans that there is no dispute between him and the Dry Cry singer.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Beenie Man sought to explain the events that transpired during a live performance at Pepperseed in Kingston on Saturday, May 21, which saw him being escorted off stage by police officers.
Beenie squarely placed the blame on show promoters for the event’s late start and then capping the time allotted for him to perform for his fans.
“If a man wah cut me off tonight, dem cut me off, but me come tonight fi work. Hush, anuh me mek unu start the show late, me come yah fi work and me a work me time weh mi get,” Beenie Man said.
He even added that “no boy can’t gimmi 20 minute, me a bad man a wah happen to u.”
“Professionalism should be the pinnacle of all business transactions. On Saturday, May 21st, I was booked to perform at the Pepperseed Live Event. I had a contract with the promoter for a band performance for 30 minutes, and I was the only artist booked at the time to perform on bands. I had a contract with the band, and I paid the band for my set,” Beenie Man explained in his statement.
He went on to reveal that his set was subsequently extended to 45 minutes a few hours before his performance. He also revealed that the promoters had also requested that Sizzla be allowed to perform with Beenie’s band.
“Once I started performing, 15-20 minutes into my set, I was told the promoter said 5 minutes with no explanation, no disclosure of time constraints, no explanation of permit problems, or prior request to cut the set short,” Beenie Man’s statement read.
“The promoter had ample time to discuss this with my management and the band members, but he waited until we were in the middle of the set to send the police on the stage to cut the show short.”
Indicating he is “one of the easiest artistes to do business with,” Beenie Man said he hopes his explanation will quell rumours that he and Sizzla are at loggerheads.
“Big up Sizzla!!! Mi and Sizzla can’t have no problem and we both made that clear so to the media, stop spread lies…I hope the narrative being circulated now is cleared because Sizzla and I have no dispute,” the King of the Dancehall said.