Beenie Man’s ‘Who Am I (Sim Simma)’ Goes Gold in the US
Almost three decades after its release, ‘Who Am I (Sim Simma)’, the hit single from Dancehall veteran Beenie Man, has been certified gold in the United States for sales exceeding 500,000 copies.
Certification Details
The certification was issued on November 15.
About the Song
‘Who Am I’, which is featured on Beenie Man’s 1997 Grammy-nominated ‘Many Moods of Moses’ album, was produced by Jeremy Harding and is featured on the popular Playground rhythm.
The Song’s Impact
The track helped to introduce Beenie Man to the world as a new reggae star in the pages of Newsweek and other major media outlets. He used a portion of this song in his reggae fusion single “Girls Dem Sugar” featuring Mýa which was released in 2000.
Chart Performance
The song reached No. 10 in the UK Singles Chart and was his first top 40 hit in the UK. On the US Billboard charts, the song reached No. 6 on their Hot Rap Singles chart. On the Hot R&B singles chart, the song reached No. 15.
Features and Soundtrack
It was also featured on the NBA 2K22 soundtrack.
‘Sim Simma’ Challenge
The hit song saw an increase in streams and sales this summer when the #SimSimmaChallenge took the internet by storm and went viral on TikTok.
The game is played when a person phones an unsuspecting friend and says “sim simma,” a reference to the dancehall artist’s iconic line. The person then patiently awaits their friend to complete the sentence by responding with, “who got the keys to my Bimma?”
Many celebrities including American musicians Ciara and Kelly Rowland, Kim Kardashian and Vanessa Bryant joined the challenge.
New Album and Grammy Nomination
The challenge went viral just weeks before Beenie Man’s 19-track album Simma was released in August. Mya, Dexta Daps, Shenseea, Shaggy, Popcaan and Sean Paul are among the star-studded collaborators who are featured on Simma.
The album is nominated for best Reggae Grammy at the 2024 Grammy Awards next February.
Read: Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Burning Spear and more nominated for Reggae Grammy
Conclusion
Beenie Man’s ‘Who Am I (Sim Simma)’ has made a lasting impact in the music industry, and its certification as a gold single is a testament to its enduring popularity.
FAQs
Q: When was the song released?
A: The song was first released in 1997.
Q: What is the song’s chart performance?
A: The song reached No. 10 in the UK Singles Chart and was his first top 40 hit in the UK. On the US Billboard charts, the song reached No. 6 on their Hot Rap Singles chart. On the Hot R&B singles chart, the song reached No. 15.
Q: What is the #SimSimmaChallenge?
A: The #SimSimmaChallenge is a viral game played on TikTok where a person phones an unsuspecting friend and says “sim simma,” and then awaits their friend to complete the sentence by responding with, “who got the keys to my Bimma?”
Q: Is Beenie Man’s album Simma nominated for a Grammy?
A: Yes, the album Simma is nominated for best Reggae Grammy at the 2024 Grammy Awards next February.