Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

Left: Bounty Killer performs at 'Island Explosion' at Leiba's Esso service station in May Pen, Clarendon. - nathaniel stewart   Right: Beenie Man in performance at the Cool Oasis Eclipse Pool Party V Expozed, held at the Mineral Bath, Rockfort. - file

A clash between dancehall rivals Beenie Man and Bounty Killer is still pending and promoters say they are willing to play host if both artistes agree.

The much-anticipated square-off on stage between longtime rivals Beenie Man and Bounty Killer did not materialise at 'Sting 2006', nor did it materialise at 'Campfire', held in Ewarton on New Year's Eve, where Beenie had extended an invitation for Bounty to meet him for a clash.

According to Dexton Ennis, promoter of Magnum 'Follow Di Arrow', set to take place this year at the James Bond Beach in Oracabessa, St. Mary, he would be willing to host a clash between the two artistes.

"Right now there is no other clash that can turn the attention like a Beenie, Bounty clash, it's the longest-running rivalry in dancehall," Ennis said.

He also said: "if that were to happen on my show ... can you imagine the headline, 'Bounty, Beenie settle differences at Follow Di Arrow', my show would a be di biggest one fi di year."

However, Ennis says there are no immediate plans to have such a clash at his upcoming show, 'Follow Di Arrow' slated to take place on February 24. But if both artistes were to agree to a clash, he would be more than willing to play host.

"From dem (Beenie/Bounty) mutually want to have a clash, anytime both artistes ready, I would be willing to promote that show," Ennis said.

The strategy, Ennis says, "would be to first have the mutual agreement between both artistes. No entourage would be allowed on stage, just Beenie an Bounty doing tune for tune with the crowd as the judge. Only my security personnel would be allowed on stage."

Among the artistes already confirmed for 'Follow Di Arrow' are Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Capleton, Sizzla, Elephant Man, Ninja Man, Anthony B, Vegas, Turbulence, Captain Barkey and Wickerman. Bounty Killer is yet to be confirmed as he has a show pending in Barbados.

Another promoter, MC Nuffy, who is responsible for the 'Portmore Awards', an annual stage show, says, "if di crowd want it an it would a gwaan good an nuh mash up mi show, mi wouldn't have a problem wid it."

Outside of an agreement to do a clash, however, Nuffy says, "Beenie an Bounty did work deh (Portmore Awards) last year an mi a guh have di two a dem deh deh dis year. All dem do, work separate an come off."

The Portmore Awards show is slated for June 23 this year, and among some of the acts already confirmed are Beenie Man, D'Angel, Spice, Ninja Man and Vybz Kartel.

However, all hopes of a clash between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer may once again fall through, as Beenie is reluctant to do a clash.

"Mi nuh inna dat (clash with Bounty), mi a big man, mi have mi yout dem fi look bout," Beenie told The STAR yesterday.

However, in an interview with THE STAR, dated, December 28, 2006, Bounty Killer said he would not rule out a clash between himself and Beenie.

He was quoted as saying, "He (Beenie) will be seeing Bounty Killa because I ain't going nowhere. I will step to him when I feel like, I'm a spontaneous person ... suh (Beenie) jus keep yuh feyes open."