Beenie Man clarifies remarks regarding Carnival origins

Jamaican dancehall artist Beenie Man has released a video message to address backlash following comments suggesting that Jamaica began Carnival celebrations before Trinidad and Tobago. The controversy originated during an interview on Hot 97, where the singer attributed the style of celebrations he grew up with to the influence of late Jamaican musician Byron Lee.

In his clarification, Beenie Man stated that his remarks were intended to describe his personal experience with Jamaican Carnival traditions, such as large music trucks and road marches, rather than to challenge the historical timeline of Trinidad and Tobago’s celebrations. He emphasized his affection for the country, stating, “I don’t speak with Trinidad with hate, I love Trinidad.”

While the singer acknowledged that Trinidad’s Carnival traditions began much earlier, he stopped short of a full retraction of his original historical claims, focusing instead on the specific cultural influence of Byron Lee in Jamaica.