Although they have been at odds for over 15 years, with no signs of hostilities ceasing, deejays Beenie Man and Bounty Killer tend to have a lot in common (and we are not talking about D'Angel here).
For one, they were both banned by the Coalition of Corporate Sponsors after their performances at the carnival's Last Hurrah 2005 and, in another clash with the corporate world, they have been the only two to take a public stance against Red Stripe.
Withdrew sponsorship
This is after the drink company withdrew sponsorship from live music events in Jamaica earlier this year, citing negative trends in the music.
So, Bounty Killer reportedly spoke out strongly against Red Stripe at this years Reggae Sumfest while, as reported in Saturday's publication, Beenie Man did not allow any Red Stripe products to be sold at this year's staging of his Sizzle concert, held last week Tuesday.
As reported in the story, Beenie Man said:
"Anybody tek a stance against dancehall music, we take a stance against them because if you tek stance against dancehall music, you nuh want we fi eat or wi youth go a school."
Sticking to his principles
Of course, we suspect by 'eat' and 'go a school' he is not necessarily referring to himself personally but the many persons who earn from dancehall events, from the poster man to the vendor to the sound system provider.
We suspect, also, that the ban is more symbolic than anything else, but still he must be commended for sticking to his principles, despite the financial consequences. Red Stripe obviously plans to stick by its position and the likely result of the impasse is that each entity, entertainer and beverage manufacturer, will prove its independence.
And there is nothing wrong with that.
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