Search - Beenie Man :: Maestro

Beenie Man IS Music

PrinceNikodeem | 10/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's a shame that this album's overall rating is being affected by those with a political agenda to push. All of the reviewers who've rated Beenie's albums here on Amazon with a "1" acknowledge their bias in their posts, one even going so far as to state that the "Music isn't half bad.....Beenie himself is aweful" (sic). Moreover, they never take the time to review each of Beenie's albums individually, but rather copy 'n' paste their same old tired tirade into each of his album review sections whether that album contains any anti-gay lyrics or not.



I do not condone violence or hate crimes against anyone, but let's not apply these standards selectively. Should we pan the albums of Jerry Lee Lewis because he married his underaged cousin? Should I slam the Rolling Stones based not on their musical talent, but rather because I personally find songs like "Brown Sugar" (about on old white man raping virginal, Black slaves, etc.) to be extremely offensive and disgusting? Should I dash across Amazon and give every one of Ted Nugent's albums a "1" because I disagree strongly with his views on animal rights and politics? Rate the music, not the man, people!!!



Moving on to the album itself, "Maestro" marked a crucial turning point in Beenie's career. This album constitutes the "King of the Dancehall's" first major attempt to crossover to an American/International audience. Many of the songs on this CD are the sort of tried and true dancehall bangers that those familiar with Beenie's work up to this point had come to expect, such as "Girls Dem Sugar", "Any Mr. Man", and "His-Story".



However, it is well-known that Beenie Man is a connoisseur of many genres of music, and this reality manifests itself on this album in spades. Beenie's love of hip hop, country, classical pop, r&b, ska, roots, classic rock, and traditional African vocal music courses throughout the track listings of this disc.



The "Maestro" introduction sets the tone for the rest of the album, casting Beenie Man as a faux-classical conductor with a spate of musical genres at his finger tips. On "Nuff Gal" he delves into a sort of Manhattan Transferesque coffee house jazz, on "Blackboard" he invokes the spirit of classical ska, complete with blaring accompaniment from an accomplished hornsman, on "Be My Lady" he evokes a pseudo 50s doo wop sound which would not seem out of place in a Jamaican revival of Grease, on "Oh Jah Jah" and "One Big Road" he seems to channel the spirit of his rootsy, sometime sparring partner Buju Banton, on "Jerusalem" he lapses into a heartfelt quasi-Nyabinghi chant, and on "In the Ghetto" he holds his own rhyming over a hip hop beat while collaborating with the Brooklyn-based MCs known as the Bush Babies.



Something tells me that if music were to take on human form, it would look something like Mr. Moses Davis, AKA Beenie Man!



Overall, this is a very solid album which easily earns a rating of roughly 4, but I'm going to go ahead and give it a 5 in order to offset some of the political "reviews" posted here which are dragging down Beenie's overall rating without being objective or giving his music a fair chance.



Please note that there are no anti-gay songs on this album."

A dancehall Masterpiece

Spragga Benz | USA | 06/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While I don't support any anti-gay messages or any bigotry against anyone for that matter, that has nothing to do with this album, which doesn't contain any anti-gay songs. I own every Beenieman album and at least 90% of his songs not on an album, and I can say that he rarely has negative gay lyrics. He got called out for that one song, and that has defined his reputation. Beenieman has long been rumored to be gay himself (mostly by Bounty Killa) and I wouldn't be surprised if these anti-gay lyrics are a feeble attempt to prove him self hetero. No excuse, that was very wrong, and he deserves the criticism he gets. Having said all that, this album is a masterpiece. Probably the best dancehall album ever. Beenieman offers up many different styles from jazzy "Nuff Gal" to the operaesque intro. From first to last, this album is strong. Many Moods of Moses gets more credit, but this album is stronger top to bottom. If you want to boycott Beenieman for some of his lyrics, that's your decision; but there is no doubt that this album is a 5 star album. I will say to defend eminem and criticise Beenieman is ridiculous. Eminem is an a-hole, no doubt about that. He hugged Elton John, so he's not a homophobe? Please. That's called damage control."

Wicked

Larry D. Thomas Jr. | bluffton, sc | 04/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this cd was one of the best of beenie only a new reggae listener would give this less than 4 stars the songs are classic lighter songs"