No 1990s dancehall playlist would be completed without Beenie Man’s Who Am I (Sim Simma) hit song. This track, released in 1997, captures the essence of the era, composed of seemingly innocent lyrics that carry raunchy meanings behind them.
Who Am I (Sim Simma) success was seemingly fueled by its controversial lyrics and catchy flow. It peaked at number 40 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
The song has an infectious groove, with the Dancehall King detailing his bedroom experiences while he boasts about being a ladies’ man and struggles with losing one of the women he loves.
“Yuh eva buck a gyal weh deep like a bucket? Draw fi yuh needle, and yuh needle can’t stitch it. Draw fi yuh axe, and like a cow, yuh all a chop it,” he sings at the beginning of the song. “How can i make love to a fella, ina rush,” were the controversial lyrics that made the song a topic for discussion until today.
Beenie Man also dropped the music video for the track. The visuals kick off with Beenie sitting as he leans against a vehicle and cut to show him in a white room, where a female makes multiple appearances.
When the female joins the scene, the deejay blindfolds her, and she caresses his body throughout the video. The deejay drops dance moves inside the room by himself and is later seen in a car with the same female. His playboy lifestyle is later portrayed when he is spotted afterwards with a group of women.
Beenie, born Moses Anthony Davis, hails from Kingston, and his first hit song, Over the Sea, was released in 1983. He has received several awards throughout his career, such as two Best Performance for Spectrum awards in 1995 and 1996, a MOBO award, a DJ Of The Year Award, and a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2001 for his Art and Life (2000) album.
Watch Beenie Man’s Who Am I music video below:
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