Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Beenie Man shows off his book, Who Am I? written by Milton Wray (left) at the launch at Devon House on Tuesday. - Nathaniel Stewart photos
Dancehall Queen Carlene asks "What would you do if you found a used condom in my bag?" Beenie Man replies "Me woulda kill yu!" This is after returning from a three-day trip to New York when she finds a used condom in his luggage.
When Milton Wray, author of the book Who Am I? The Untold Story of Beenie Man ended his reading of a passage from the ace deejay's biography with that exchange from dancehall's once hottest couple, there was a collective laugh at the Devonshire, Devon House, Hope Road, St Andrew last night.
And the first passage he read had ended on a similarly, sexually tense note, as after detailing Moses Dean Anthony Davis' birth and the joy of his parents, Wray read that that joy soon turned to suspicion after people questioned "whether Lloyd was truly the biological father of the child".
Who Am I, dubbed the first dancehall biography, was launched to a full house, music being as much a part of the evening as literature. Beenie Man walked the red carpet into the Devonshire to King of the Dancehall and ended the official launch, hosted by Empress, with a freestyle jam encouraging all to "buy de book".
Gripping style
In between, guest speaker Professor Carolyn Cooper said "Milton's style is gripping. Him catch you and him not letting you go 'til you finish the book" and complimented publisher Michael Grant of Great House Omni Media on having the foresight "to see that Milton's book is guaranteed to be an international bestseller".
And Grant said Who Am I? The Untold Story of Beenie Man, "has created a touchstone, something people are going to refer to for a long time".
Writer Joan Andrea Hutchinson did the bulk of the reading from Who Am I? last night. That excerpt recreated the initial meeting between Beenie Man, Little Kirk, then five and eight years old, respectively, and Patrick Roberts, after the two had done very well on a concert. When Beenie Man checked the money Roberts had given them so they could take a bus to Craig Town to deejay on Staxx sound system: "Beenie Man quickly counted the cash. It was six dollars".
Personal interview
Beenie Man indicated the root of the openness shown by the Carlene and the used condom saga, saying that when he sat down with Wray to do the initial interviews for his biography, Wray said "de greates' ting is to interview people who know yu personally. Turn him over to Carlene. When she mad, she no hide nutten, 'bout me condom an' one bag a tings.
"It is good to have a book written about you when you is not a dead man," Beenie Man said, to applause.
Host for the evening, Empress, listens keenly to 'the doctor' speaking at his Who Am I? book launch.
Beenie Man autographs a copy of Who Am I? for a fan at the book launch.
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