Billboard created quite a stir in dancehall recently when the magazine declared Sean Paul the King of Dancehall.
Patricia Meschino, who is a contributing writer to Billboard mostly on reggae and dancehall, sat down with Winford Williams of Onstage and explained why Sean Paul is the king of the dominant genre of music in the Caribbean.
Fans Divided On Who Is The Dancehall King
“In her wider context she made a point that the king of dancehall being based on sales of the music, not on popularity and influenced here in Jamaica,” Meschino said.
“It’s purely based on numbers, its nothing about artists creativity or anyone perception as an album being the best or better than the other nine so its based on numbers.”
Sean Paul is the best selling reggae/dancehall of the decade 2000-2010 era. His sophomore album Dutty Rock sold over 6 million copies and went on to win SP a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. Since Dutty Rock in 2002, Sean Paul has since released four more successful albums including The Trinity in 2005 and Tomahawk Technique in 2012.
Still fans are split down the middle on who is the King of Dancehall. Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel, Yellow Man, Sean Paul are just a few names that keeps popping up in the debate.
Who is the true King of Dancehall? sound off in comments below.
I think Billboard has it right this time.
Vybz Kartel Is to Dancehall what Social Media/ Technology is To the word- REVOLUTION
With Sean Paul…His appeal is not truly hardcore dancehall fans. Look at this, there was SNOW, then came SHAGGY and NOW Sean Paul….They appeal to the same fans… I also think Shaggy is rich because his fans are not trully dancehall fans just like Sean Paul… If we really look at it, you would see that Shaggy and Sean Paul are among the top 5 earners. My point is SEAN PAUL will never be a DANCEHALL KING because he does not do hardcore dancehall. One person who trully deserved more recognition than he got is TERROR FABULOUS. He was so good during his days but just didnt have the right connections by his side.
Sean Paul and Shaggy are rich because they were able to get that international money. Sean Paul is more well-known in America than Vybz Kartel. He was signed to a major label and has a legacy that isn’t confined to Jamaica.
One can never be a King for life. Beenie was king – YES, now he is past his prime – VYBZ KARTEL is now the KING…. Yellowman was King before Beenie…..
He is not the king of dancehall just because he has the highest sales numbers. He is the best selling artist. The King will always be the worl boss, addi teacha, VYBZ KARTELLLL!!!
well if it’s based off sales then it’s more appropriate to call him the top-seller, or king of sales. calling him the king of dancehall is not an accurate reflection of dancehall. big him up still because he’s great and is in a league of his own and has done a lot for the genre
Well said…..KING OF SALES is more appropriate.
The people should decide who is the king of dancehall and most people are saying Vybz Kartel.
VIKNG. SP a big artiste yes, no doubt, but maybe if be Vybz had visa back then (and free now) he would have put up big numbers as well in america. The same visa case can be made for Jah cure and Sizzla. VYBZ IS KING
but mi taught beenie mon wuz king of dancehall?
Beenie just says he king of Dancehall because he won a grammy, fan majority , continued dominace and everything else that comes with being a trend setter say Vybz Kartel. Beeine won a Grammy yes but so did Shabba , Shaggy ect. Plus when you look at what SP has won(Grammy, BET awards, AMAs etc) plus sales/international hits he is way ahead of Beeine