Dancehall veteran Beenie Man was in his element on Tuesday night as he gave a heartfelt speech at late former Scare Dem Crew member Boom Dandimite’s candlelight vigil, touching the hearts of the family and friends gathered in the Seaview Gardens community.

He explained that during his decades-long feud with fellow artiste Bounty Killer, he had remained friends with Dandimite despite the former Scare Dem Crew member’s close alliance with Bounty.

“Me is a man weh nuh too like people enuh caw people nuh too like me. Yuh see Boom Dandimite, a mi breda. Nuh care when mi an Bounty Killer a war neck to neck, anywhere mi see Boom mi affi hail him becaw him a mi fren,” Beenie Man stated.

Boom Dandimite passed away on Sunday morning as a result of medical complications from a car accident on April 27.

The audience included artistes such as Bounty Killer, Harry Toddler, General B, and Queen Ifrica. Beenie Man gave a brief performance, blessing up his one-time-nemesis-turned-friend Bounty Killer.

“Big up Bounty Killer, mi no business where yu waan stand up, anywhere yu stad up, stand up, yu a bad people, ah so it go,” he said.

Beenie Man shared that the last time he had seen Dandimite was at his birthday party at the same house where they were now hosting his candlelight vigil.

“All who love Boom Dandimite, say boom! Find a riddim, yu tink say mi come fi talk. What time it is! What time is it! blood a run through the river like a Dunns River Falls, diss bad man, ah wrong name yu call. Boom Dandimite, we miss you,” Beenie Man said.

The artiste went on to perform for the vigil’s attendees with songs like Dem Nuh Like Me, None ah Dem No Bad Like We, Ghetto Slam and Ole Dawg all on the Showtime riddim. Queen Ifrica took the mic and performed ‘If Yu Feel like a Bad Man, keep it to yourself…’ and was met with cheers.

Beenie Man later called for a moment of silence for Dandimite.

— Claude Mills