Beenie Man Says 'No STING Unless Laing Offers Explanation"

Dancehall artiste, Moses Davis, more popularly known as Beenie Man will be a notable absentee from this year’s edition of the popular STING stage show.

With STING 2011 almost sure to miss fellow established deejay, Vybz Kartel, due to his current legal woes, Beenie Man announced on Thursday that he would not participate in the stage show. STING 2011 will take place on December 26 at Jamworld in Portmore, St. Catherine.

In a press release, Beenie Man publicly chastised STING 2011’s main organizer, Isaiah Laing for remarks made about him whilst appearing on a local television show. The Let’s Go deejay intimated that he would not perform at the stage show unless received a thorough explanation regarding Laing’s comments.

“How (Isaiah) Laing fi go pon TV and mek dem speech de say we ah old artistes and caan do nothing fi him show. Him no respect the dancehall veterans who help to build the industry in no way. Every year, him attempt  fi disrespect we in some way, and mi not doing Sting this year unless Laing come explain to me what him mean by ‘old artiste’. If Bounty waan a clash, him haffi link me at some other show,” he said.

Additionally, Beenie Man revealed that long-time rival, Bounty Killer and fellow deejay, Elephant Man asked him to perform at a show their organizing for New Year’s Eve. However, the prominent Dancehall artiste claims that Bounty accused him of running from a possible lyrical clash at STING 2011; accusing the “War Lord” of sucking up to Laing.

“Killer and Ele come to me up at Suzie’s and say which part we ah go keep our show. Mi check it out and did a plan fi use Jamalco inna Clarendon and do the show on December 31st. And now mi hear Killer ah say mi a run from clash but mi fraida Killer, mi nah run, and mi will clash him at another show apart from Sting. Killer bow too much, look how easy him mek Laing bring him in and ah use him fi bring mi in,” Beenie Man said.

Despite his grouse with Laing, Beenie Man insisted that he still believes STING is a great showcase for younger artistes to announce themselves on a mainstream level. However, he believes that while they are promoting growth artistes on the come-up, they’re disrespecting veteran artistes.

“Sting is a good show and we need it fi continue fi help buss the next generation of artistes, but mi just no like how dem treat the artistes who inna the industry. Look how me and Killer ah do clash song and ah build a vibes and him come pon TV and just kill the clash song dem right inna the middle of the promotion, and den him ah come draw back fi we after him dun diss we. Mi caan deal wid it no more, Beenie Man said.