Exclusive: The story behind how Bounty Killer and Beenie Man collaborated with reggaeton star J Balvin on 'Touchdown,' the official promo track for the NFL wildcard game
Another achievement for those two dancehall giants
The NFL playoffs are heating up, with just 13 games remaining in 2025 to crown the Super Bowl 59 champion in New Orleans.
The journey begins with an action-packed Wild Card Weekend, featuring six games over three days. Adding to the excitement, the official promo track Touchdown premieres Tuesday on ESPN. The track brings together dancehall legends Bounty Killer and Beenie Man alongside international reggaeton star J Balvin. It is produced by Haitian DJ and record producer Michael Brun and Jamaican Grammy-winning producer Izy, with executive production by Ron André Elvis Telford of Creative Titans, who collaborated closely with Julian Jones-Griffith of Popstyle Music on the project.
The song was primarily recorded during the COVID lockdown. "Michael Brun was working on J Balvin’s album and asked me to contribute ideas that leaned toward dancehall, so I involved my client Izy and asked him to share some concepts," shared the executive producer, Ron André Elvis Telford. "He sent the idea over to Michael Brun, who enhanced it."
"We immediately thought of getting Buju Banton on it, but he declined. At the time, I was in talks to sign Bounty Killer to Creative Titans/Concord Music for publishing, so I asked Julian to get Bounty on the track. Balvin loved the idea", he recalled. "It was right after the Verzuz battle, so Julian and I decided to elevate the song further by adding a verse from Beenie Man to take it to the next level."
"We were fortunate enough to be granted an exemption from the Jamaican curfew, allowing us to get Bounty and Beenie into the studio to record their verses… and the rest is history", the Telford added.
This marks another significant international milestone for Jamaican dancehall pioneers. Beenie Man, currently overseas, is set to perform in the U.S. this year after having his visa reinstated following a 10-year hiatus. Meanwhile, Bounty Killer recently celebrated an iconic event in Kingston on Friday night, drawing a massive turnout and adding to the impressive achievements of his storied career.
Both artists have made historic moments on the global stage, including their iconic Verzuz battle in 2020. Streamed live from Kingston, Jamaica, the Memorial Day "Soundclash Edition" of Swizz Beatz and Timbaland's flagship IG Live series remains one of the most exciting and entertaining installments to date.
In 2024, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man received the Order of Distinction on National Heroes' Day, honoring their monumental impact on the music industry and their contributions to Jamaican culture.
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