Bounty Killer, aka Rodney Basil Price, was born 12.06.1972 in the Trenchtown area of downtown Kingston, Jamaica, with his family moving to a next ghetto area of Riverton City (formerly known as Dungle), and finally Seaview Gardens, Kingston, as a young child. One of nine children to his mother "Miss Ivy" and father, owner of a small sound system, Rodney first picked up the mic as a deejay at nine years old.
He nearly lost his life to gun violence at 14, but thankfully fully recovered from the bystander assault and soon began his music career as Bounty Hunter. He joined neighborhood friends Nitty Kutchie and Boom Dandemite in seeking out opportunities in country as well as town, performing for Metromedia and Bodyguard, as well as other local area sound systems. It was during a chance meeting with brother of King Jammy, Uncle T, which would change his career forever.
Bounty's initial recordings were done by Uncle T, after Jammy himself was skeptical due to the violent nature of the tracks. Jammy eventually relented upon witnessing the rising popularity of the deejay.
His first hit record on the sound system circuit was Dub Fi Dub and other recordings with the King Jammys label were compiled into 1993's Jamaica's Most Wanted, later released as Roots, Reality and Culture. By 1993, now known internationally as Bounty Killer, Rodney was quickly becoming regarded as one of the fiercest and most lyrically gifted of the next generation of deejays. Hits such as Coppershot, Lodge, and Spy Fi Die quickly propelled Bounty to an upper-echelon deejay, and sound system dubplate favorite. "Coppershot" was actually a hit in New York before Jamaica, which left Bounty as personally indebted to the American city as much as his native Kingston. 1993 also brought the beginning of a long, on-and-off rivalry with Beenie Man, which culminated in a battle at Sting 1993, extended through the mid-90s and flared up again in the latter half of the following decade.
Bounty won the war at Sting 1993 and his legacy as dancehall superstar was cemented as a result. The mid-1990s brought hit after hit, such as Cellular Phone, Not Another Word, and Mama. The heated war-of-words with Beenie Man gave the world many popular tunes from each side, including Ask Fi War, Suspense, and War Beyond The Stars.
The mid-90s era culminated in the release of My Xperience in 1996. The most comercially successful album of Bounty's career, and widely considered one of the best dancehall albums of the decade, it mixed popular dancehall tracks, such as Living Dangerously featuring Barrington Levy and Fed Up, with hip-hop crossover duets featuring Jeru The Damaja, Raekwon and, most popularly, The Fugees.
The decade closed out with two more albums, Next Millenium, which featued more hip-hop guest combinations, and 5th Element, which returned to a more hardcore-dancehall style.
By the year 2000, Bounty Killer, along with Capleton, was still considered the top deejay in the business, particularly with the waning popularity (at the time) of Beenie Man, and refocused career path of Buju Banton. This was due as much to being the most in-demand artist for dubplate recordings by sound systems as to actual studio material.
In 2001, he was featured with No Doubt on their international hit Hey Baby, and appeared with the band for a pre-game performance at the 2002 NFL Super Bowl.
In 2002, Bounty released his most ambitious project since My Xperience, a double CD (released seperately), titled Ghetto Dictionary: The Mystery and Ghetto Dictionary: The Art of War. While not nearly the commercial success of My Xperience, underground sales were strong, and it featured the smash dancehall hit Sufferah.
Since the Ghetto Dictionary project, Bounty Killer's influence has mostly been behind-the-scenes, working with young talent and bringing new dancehall reggae stars to the forefront. He has been credited with bolstering the careers of, among others, Elephant Man, Busy Signal, Wayne Marshall, Baby Cham, and Vybz Kartel.
He currently oversees a stable of artists known alternately as The Alliance and Gully, which includes Mavado and Aidonia.
Caan Believe Mi Eye
Bounty Killer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mi nuh know how dem man yah fi talk bout dem a run di place an how dem a badman
A bleach dem face an a cream dem hair inna tight pants
Bum out dem bumboclaat!
Verse 1
Well I caan believe a how battyman get so bold
Mi caan believe say Rastaman a tun pussyhole
Mi caan believe mi eye, mi caan believe mi eye
Mi caan believe some name mi a hear say a men
Mi caan believe say tight pants come een again
Mi caan believe say gunman an battyman a fren
Mi caan believe mi eye, mi caan believe mi eye
Mi caan believe say battyman a run people place
Mi caan believe di shotta dem a bleach out dem face
Mi caan believe say certain man a come pan wi base
Mi caan believe mi eye, mi caan belive mi eye
Mi caan believe di gal dem a guh the other way
Mi never know Jamaica woulda have so much gay
Mi caan believe di government dem inna foul play
Mi caan believe mi eye, mi caan believe mi eye
Well if smaddi did tell mi mi woulda say a lie
Say certain man and certain man and certain man a guy
Mi see it fi miself water full up mi eye
Da one deh an da one deh a spy
Pussyhole caan believe say gunman a buss murder case
Caan believe say ghetto youth a live certain place
Dem caan believe a we dat stan up side a Mase
Dem Caan believe dem eye, dem caan believe dem eye
Dem caan believe say little from dis dem haffi run
Dem caan believe a we decide when war fi dun
Dem caan believe a we siddung pan certain gun
Dem caan believe dem eye, dem caan believe dem eye
Dem caan believe say ghetto youth a siddung an think
Dem caan believe say ghetto man have Alize a drink
Dem caan believe say Matches Lane and Garden man a link
Dem caan believe dem eye, dem caan believe dem eye
Dem caan believe a how dem deh a farrin an a gaze
Dem caan believe when dem come back an wi a blaze
Dem caan believe how a new tune have di craze
Dem caan believe dem eye, dem caan believe dem eye
The lyrics of Bounty Killer's song "Caan Believe Mi Eye" express the artist's disbelief and frustration towards certain societal issues and behaviors that he finds unacceptable. The song starts with Bounty Killer criticizing men who claim to be tough and dominant while engaging in activities that he deems effeminate, such as bleaching their face and wearing tight pants. He dismisses them as false and disrespectful.
In the first verse, Bounty Killer expresses his disbelief at the audacity of individuals who identify as Rastafarian but exhibit behavior that contradicts the Rastafarian principles. He also expresses shock at the heartlessness of young criminals and the way they have become cold and ruthless. This disbelief is emphasized with the repetition of the line, "Mi caan believe mi eye."
The second verse continues to express his disbelief as he mentions hearing names that suggest individuals are involved in homosexual activities. He also comments on the resurgence of the tight pants fashion trend, which he disapproves of, and the association between gunmen and homosexual individuals. Bounty Killer emphasizes his disbelief in the chorus, repeatedly stating that he cannot believe what he is witnessing.
In the final verse, Bounty Killer expresses his disbelief and disappointment at the direction in which society is heading. He mentions the acceptance of homosexuality and the government's involvement in questionable activities. He comments on his own personal observation of certain men engaging in homosexual activities, causing his eyes to fill with tears. Bounty Killer also addresses the disbelief of others, particularly those who doubt the capabilities and influence of ghetto youth.
Overall, the lyrics of "Caan Believe Mi Eye" convey Bounty Killer's frustration and disbelief at the societal issues and behaviors that he feels are compromising Jamaican culture and values.
Line by Line Meaning
Mi nuh know how dem man yah fi talk bout dem a run di place an how dem a badman
I don't understand how these men can claim to be in control and tough
A bleach dem face an a cream dem hair inna tight pants
They're lightening their skin and styling their hair in tight pants
Bum out dem bumboclaat!
Get rid of them, trash them!
Well I caan believe a how battyman get so bold
I can't believe how openly gay men are becoming
Mi caan believe say Rastaman a tun pussyhole
I can't believe that Rastafarians are turning into homosexuals
Mi caan believe di little taker dem get so cold
I can't believe how heartless the young criminals have become
Mi caan believe mi eye, mi caan believe mi eye
I can't believe what I'm seeing
Mi caan believe some name mi a hear say a men
I can't believe the names I hear associated with men
Mi caan believe say tight pants come een again
I can't believe that the trend of tight pants is back
Mi caan believe say gunman an battyman a fren
I can't believe that gunmen and homosexuals are friends
Mi caan believe mi eye, mi caan believe mi eye
I can't believe what I'm seeing
Mi caan believe say battyman a run people place
I can't believe that homosexuals are taking over spaces
Mi caan believe di shotta dem a bleach out dem face
I can't believe that gangsters are lightening their skin
Mi caan believe say certain man a come pan wi base
I can't believe that certain individuals are invading our territory
Mi caan believe mi eye, mi caan believe mi eye
I can't believe what I'm seeing
Mi caan believe di gal dem a guh the other way
I can't believe that the girls are choosing otherwise
Mi never know Jamaica woulda have so much gay
I never knew that Jamaica would have so many homosexuals
Mi caan believe di government dem inna foul play
I can't believe that the government is engaging in corruption
Mi caan believe mi eye, mi caan believe mi eye
I can't believe what I'm seeing
Well if smaddi did tell mi mi woulda say a lie
If someone had told me, I would have thought it was a lie
Say certain man and certain man and certain man a guy
That certain men are actually homosexuals
Mi see it fi miself water full up mi eye
I've witnessed it myself, tears filled my eyes
Da one deh an da one deh a spy
Those ones are spies
Pussyhole caan believe say gunman a buss murder case
Cowards can't believe that a gangster is responsible for a murder case
Caan believe say ghetto youth a live certain place
Can't believe that the youth from the ghetto living in specific areas
Dem caan believe a we dat stan up side a Mase
They can't believe that we stand alongside Mase
Dem Caan believe dem eye, dem caan believe dem eye
They can't believe what they're seeing
Dem caan believe say little from dis dem haffi run
They can't believe that they have to run from people like us
Dem caan believe a we decide when war fi dun
They can't believe that we determine when the war ends
Dem caan believe a we siddung pan certain gun
They can't believe that we are sitting on certain weapons
Dem caan believe dem eye, dem caan believe dem eye
They can't believe what they're seeing
Dem caan believe say ghetto youth a siddung an think
They can't believe that the youth from the ghetto sit and contemplate
Dem caan believe say ghetto man have Alize a drink
They can't believe that the ghetto men drink Alize
Dem caan believe say Matches Lane and Garden man a link
They can't believe that people from Matches Lane and Garden are collaborating
Dem caan believe dem eye, dem caan believe dem eye
They can't believe what they're seeing
Dem caan believe a how dem deh a farrin an a gaze
They can't believe how they are in foreign countries observing
Dem caan believe when dem come back an wi a blaze
They can't believe when they return and we are causing chaos
Dem caan believe how a new tune have di craze
They can't believe how a new song has become so popular
Dem caan believe dem eye, dem caan believe dem eye
They can't believe what they're seeing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: RODNEY PRICE, DAVE KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind