“Simma” the independent studio album by Beenie Man sold 500 units in the US during its first week of released according to data provided to WMV by Billboard sales tracker Luminate. The album which did not make the Billboard Reggae albums Chart has sold 700 units over its lifetime including previously released singles. Of that amount 100 pure copies of physicals of downloads were sold and 1.6 million on-demand streams during its first week and 1.7M over its lifetime.
The 19 track set released August 31, 2023 features a star studded lineup of artists from across continents including Sean Paul, Anthony Red Rose, Patoranking, Busy Signal, Mya, UK artist Giggs and Ms. Banks, Mya, Hoodcelebrityy, Dexta Daps, Shenseea, Bunji Garlin, Shaggy, Popcaan, Busy Signal, Morgan Heritage, Charly Black, Louie Culture, Dre Island, Stonebwoy, and Backroad Gee.
“Simma” follows Beenie’s last album, Unstoppable (2016), which spent six weeks on the US Billboard Reggae Albums chart, and peaked at No. 3.
Now age 50 (according to official records), Beenie Man started his musical journey with the release of his debut album titled “The Invincible Beenie Man: The Ten Year Old DJ Wonder” back in 1983. This inaugural record was produced by the acclaimed producer Bunny Lee. He continued to make waves in the music industry with subsequent albums such as “Cool Rider” in 1992 and “Defend It” in 1994, both of which were released by VP Records.
In 1994, Beenie Man’s underground talent caught the attention of Island Records, leading to a significant milestone in his career. Under Island Records, he dropped “Blessed” in 1995, which climbed to No. 12 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
He went on to release a string of noteworthy albums, including “Maestro” in 1996, “Many Moods of Moses” in 1997, “Ruff ’N’ Tuff” in 1999, “The Doctor” also in 1999, and “Y2K” in the same year. Each of these albums secured respectable positions on the Billboard Reggae chart.
The King of the Dancehall’s international career is also marked by a slew of albums that earned considerable sales success in the US with over 1.3 million albums sold.
Art and Life, his 12 studio album released by Virgin Records in 2000 has sold 477,000 in the U.S. including 400,000 pure copies and 96.2 million on-demand streams. The album not only won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2001 but also reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. Art and Life needs an additional 23,000 units form to earn his first Gold album certification in the U.S.
Art and Life was driven by a slew of reggae fusion tracks including the Rock Wilder produced Love Me Now featuring Wyclef and Girls Dem Sugar fearing Mya peaked at No. 68 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. It went straight to No. 1 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart upon release and No. 18 on the R&B Hip Hop albums chart.
Tropical Storm also released by Virgin is his second most commercially successful project in the US surpassing 300,000 units. 248,000 of which are pure copies and 23.4 million streams as of March 10, 2023.
The album spawned Boss Man with Lady Saw and Sean Paul as well as Feel It Boy with Janet Jackson. Beenie “Street Life” was also released as a single making Beenie Man one of the first dancehall acts to have a Stargate produced song. Tropical Storm peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, No. 1 on the Reggae Albums chart and No. 100 on the U.K. albums chart (Official Chart).
Beenie Man’s eighth studio album Many Moods Of Moses was the set that gave him global attention. Released in 1997, the album was nominated for Best Reggae Album and it has so far sold 279,000 units including streams and sales. 235,000 of that sum are pure sales and the album earned 64.4 million on-demand streams in the US so far. The album spawns the single Who Am I which has the receptive hook “Sim Simma”and saw Beenie taking on a conscious dancehall with the track titled “Steve Biko” which was about the South African freedom fighter.
Back To Basics climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Reggae albums chart and No. 51 on the Billboard 200 when it was released in July 2004. The 15 track set which includes productions from the Kelly brothers (Dave and Tony), Stephen Lenky Marsden, Timbaland, and Beenie’s then manager Patrick Roberts has so far sold 231,000 units in the U.S. including 168,000 pure sales and 60.2 million streams.
“Undisputed” has sold 79,000 units so far with 69,000 in pure album sales. It is Beenie Man’s 18th studio album and his fifth most commercially successful with 6.2 million all time on-demand streams.
