Midway his 70-minute performance at the UBS Arena in Long Island, New York, last Saturday, reputed ‘King of the Dancehall’ Beenie Man reminded the audience that he has been in the music business for 45 years and has a discography of over 187 #1 songs. This was on full display as he reeled off a slew of numbers to the delight of a packed house of adoring fans.

There was no muting his raucous audience, who celebrated the self-proclaimed Doctor, who started out with Who Am I, the 1998 track that broke him in the American mainstream.

Dressed in a red-hued coat jacket with matching satin pants, knee-high boots, and grey Fedora, Beenie Man was in good form throughout the show.

Backed by Ruff Kutt Band, the veteran artiste delivered fan favourites such as Wickedest Slam, Girls Dem Sugar, Romie, Oysters And Conch, Ole Dawg, and World Dance, his tribute to Bogle, the flamboyant dancer who was killed 20 years ago.

CJ, a long-time Beenie Man fan who lives in Brooklyn, New York, was pleased with the show.

“It was epic! I think it was one of his best performances. People came out to love him and he did not disappoint,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

This show was notably the Grammy-winning deejay’s first major performance in the United States in 10 years. Last December the artiste announced in a video that his US visa had been reinstated.

Music industry veteran George Crooks booked Beenie Man for the 17,000-capacity UBS Arena.

He told the Observer that he was more that pleased with the turnout than the support from attendees.

“It was a great show. I always knew Beenie Man was a great performer and he proved that once again,” said Crooks.

Reggae singer Christopher Martin’s performance was also a standout at the event, delivering anthems like Cheater’s Prayer and Paper Loving, before introducing his latest single Wife and Sweetheart set to be released on all streaming platforms this Friday, May 30.

There were also performances from Silver Cat, Louie Culture, Lyrikal, Kevin Lyttle, Shane O, Shuga and others.

Beenie Man had been scheduled to perform at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, on Sunday, May 25, but promoters for that gig announced its postponement four days before showtime.

His next known major event is Summerjam in Cologne, Germany, in September.

— Howard Campbell