Face to Face is a showdown of sorts, six tunes showcase
Bounty Killer's thick, booming vocals and the other half are dedicated to
Beenie Man's equally deep, blasting voice. Recorded years before
Beenie Man earned the position of dancehall's most popular DJ, this album illustrates exactly why he has maintained this position. Frequently pitted against each other and rumored to be in constant competition,
Bounty Killer and
Beenie Man obtained prominence in the early '90s when, like its hip-hop cousin, dancehall was mired in violent, gangsta-glorifying lyrics.
Bounty Killer is known for this and every one of his songs contain references to killing, from the wicked riddim and sinister verses of "Not Another Word," to the boastful "Drama," where he talks metaphorically of " killing all over" with his lyrical finesse. On the other hand, not all of
Beenie's songs focus on violence. The throbbing rhythm of "Foreign Minded" warns about forgetting cultural roots, while "Part a the Plan" promotes racial pride. Besides greater lyrical ability,
Beenie's vocals prove to be more vivid and engaging than
Bounty's, thereby winning this musical face-off. ~ Rosalind Cummings-Yeates