Dancehall titan Vybz Kartel has shut down rumors of a brewing lyrical feud with fellow veteran Beenie Man, reaffirming his focus on positivity and personal priorities.
The speculation began after Beenie Man, who has long declared himself the “King of the Dancehall,” recently shared a 2009 video of Kartel appearing to crown him with the title during Reggae Sumfest. In the clip, Kartel stated, “Beenie Man, you a King of the Dancehall from you come outta yu madda belly, memba dat. Mi respect you and honour you… you gimme ‘Breast Specialist,’ ah mi fuss number one.”
Beenie Man captioned the post, “Straight from the horse’s mouth, ‘so weh di war bout’? 1King,” sparking thousands of social media comments and speculation about whether the exchange marked the beginning of a new rivalry.
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Kartel, however, swiftly addressed the rumors in a video posted on Instagram: “It has come to my attention that people are saying Vybz Kartel is involved in a clash or some lyrical feud. Let me reassure you nothing could be further from the truth. A positivity Vybz Kartel a deal wid.” He added that his priorities remain his family, business, money, and God.
Beenie Man vs. Kartel: The Dancehall Crown
While Beenie Man has consistently claimed the title of Dancehall King, many fans argue that Vybz Kartel has earned the crown through his nearly two-decade dominance of the genre, including his prolific output during nearly 13 years of incarceration. Kartel’s stature has grown further following his triumphant Freedom Street concert on New Year’s Eve and a Billboard Magazine feature that referred to him as “dancehall’s king.”
Beenie Man, however, has previously highlighted his role in Kartel’s career, noting in a 2021 interview on Ghana’s Hitz 103.9FM, “I was the one that released Vybz Kartel really. Remember I gave him his first number one song; me put him pon Billboard di first time.” The two artists have collaborated in the past, most notably on their 2004 hit The Specialist/Picture Dis.
For now, Kartel remains firm in his stance: there is no feud. As the debate over the title of Dancehall King continues among fans, both artists appear focused on their own legacies and contributions to the genre.
