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.
Eagle and Di Hawk
Bounty Killer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause yuh should be happy to see others happy
We gonna start this and sell a million copy
Anyway
Fassyhole an battyman nuh waan dem aroun mi
Waan see mi dead so dem can get fi moan mi
Battyman start come a stage show fi stone wi
Well bwoy like a mi nuh battyman nah guh crown mi
Media and the press a try dem best fi drown wi
Cancel mi visa but dat still nuh ground mi
Mek dem know a di eagle and di hawk dem surround wi
Well a nuff time the fassyhole dem try fi clown mi
Nuff time mi have it an mi well waan fi soun it
Nuff time mi friend dem haffi beg an haffi hol mi
Mek dem know a di eagle and di hawk dem surround wi
Swell, wait deh man
Look like a bwoy waan fi shame
Which fassyhole mi hear a call up mi name
But cool nuh man, dun know a who dem a guh blame
Suh mek mi just say it out plain
PUSSYHOLE an battyman nuh waan dem aroun mi
Waan see mi dead so dem can get fi moan mi
Battyman start come a stage show fi stone wi
Mek dem know a di eagle and the hawk dem surround wi
Well a guy a try hard like him well waan fi show mi
Dem a seen threat like dem waan toe to toe mi
Call up mi name an dem nuh really know mi
Mek dem know a di eagle and the hawk dem surroun wi
A pure hotti lotti an cute gal a own wi
Nuff rich gal a come a mi yaad fi bound mi
Dun see it say babylon well waan fi own wi
Mek dem know a di eagle an di hawk dem surroun wi
Swell, nuff a dem waan see di Killer get waste
Nuff fassyhole mi see a bawl pon mi case
Nuff a dem glad when police raid mi base
A hell when wi buck face to face
Fassyhole an battyman nuh waan dem aroun mi
Waan see mi dead so dem can get fi moan mi
Battyman start come a stage show fi stone wi
Mek dem know a di eagle and the hawk dem surround wi
Well bwoy like a mi nuh battyman nah guh crown mi
Media and the press a try dem best fi drown wi
Cancel mi visa but dat still nuh ground mi
Mek dem know a di eagle and di hawk dem surround wi
Nuff time the fassyhole dem try fi clown mi
Nuff time mi have it an mi well waan fi soun it
Nuff time mi friend dem haffi beg an haffi hol mi
Mek dem know a di eagle and di hawk dem surround wi
Swell, wait deh man
Look like a fool waan fi shame
Which fassyhole mi hear a call up mi name
But cool nuh man, dun know a who dem a guh blame
Suh mek mi just say it out plain
Fassyhole an battyman nuh waan dem aroun mi
Waan see mi dead so dem can get fi moan mi
Battyman start come a stage show fi stone wi
Mek dem know a di eagle and the hawk dem surround wi
In Bounty Killer's song Eagle and Di Hawk, the artist expresses his dislike for homosexuals and transvestites, referring to them as "fassyhole" and "battyman." He claims that they do not want to be around him and that they would be happy to see him dead. He also mentions that they have been trying to undermine him at stage shows and that the media has been trying to bring him down as well. However, he confidently declares that he will not be brought down, as he is surrounded by eagles and hawks (symbolic of strength and power).
The lyrics also touch on themes of loyalty and friendship, as Bounty Killer mentions that his friends often have to protect him from those who wish to harm him. He also boasts about his popularity with women and his ability to resist the authorities' attempts to control him (such as when his visa was canceled).
Overall, the song reflects Bounty Killer's uncompromising attitude towards those who he sees as threats to his reputation and his status as a dancehall icon.
Line by Line Meaning
Hay Yow! You! Mr Fassy
Addressing someone called Mr Fassy with excitement
Cause yuh should be happy to see others happy
Expressing that it's good to see others happy
We gonna start this and sell a million copy
Talking about selling a million copies of a project
Anyway
Moving on from the previous topic
Fassyhole an battyman nuh waan dem aroun mi
Refusing to let people identified as fassyhole and battyman near the artist
Waan see mi dead so dem can get fi moan mi
Stating that some people want to see the singer dead so they can mourn him
Battyman start come a stage show fi stone wi
Talking about how some people are coming to the stage show with intentions of stoning the singer
Mek dem know a di eagle and the hawk dem surround wi
Informing people that the artist and his crew are surrounded by strong and powerful people
Well bwoy like a mi nuh battyman nah guh crown mi
Stating that the artist is not a battyman and will not be overthrown
Media and the press a try dem best fi drown wi
Saying that the media and press are trying their best to ruin the artist's reputation
Cancel mi visa but dat still nuh ground mi
Stating that even though the singer's visa was cancelled, it did not stop him from succeeding
Mek dem know a di eagle and di hawk dem surround wi
Repeating that the artist and his crew are surrounded by strong and powerful people
Well a nuff time the fassyhole dem try fi clown mi
Recalling how people identified as fassyhole have tried to embarrass the singer
Nuff time mi have it an mi well waan fi soun it
Saying that the singer has something important to say and wants to share it
Nuff time mi friend dem haffi beg an haffi hol mi
Saying that the singer's friends have had to beg and support him
Mek dem know a di eagle and di hawk dem surround wi
Repeating that the artist and his crew are surrounded by strong and powerful people
Swell, wait deh man
Taking a pause and addressing someone
Look like a bwoy waan fi shame
Noticing that someone is trying to embarrass the singer
Which fassyhole mi hear a call up mi name
Asking which person identified as fassyhole has been calling the singer's name
But cool nuh man, dun know a who dem a guh blame
Trying to calm down and not place blame on anyone without knowing the facts
Suh mek mi just say it out plain
Deciding to speak bluntly and straightforwardly
PUSSYHOLE an battyman nuh waan dem aroun mi
Refusing to let people identified as pussyhole and battyman around the artist
Waan see mi dead so dem can get fi moan mi
Stating that some people want to see the singer dead so they can mourn him
Battyman start come a stage show fi stone wi
Talking about how some people are coming to the stage show with intentions of stoning the artist
Mek dem know a di eagle and the hawk dem surround wi
Informing people that the singer and his crew are surrounded by strong and powerful people
Well a guy a try hard like him well waan fi show mi
Noticing someone trying hard to prove something to the singer
Dem a seen threat like dem waan toe to toe mi
People see the singer as a threat and want to confront him
Call up mi name an dem nuh really know mi
People are calling the artist's name even though they don't really know him
Mek dem know a di eagle and the hawk dem surroun wi
Repeating that the artist and his crew are surrounded by strong and powerful people
A pure hotti lotti an cute gal a own wi
Saying that the singer is surrounded by beautiful women
Nuff rich gal a come a mi yaad fi bound mi
Saying that many wealthy women come to the singer's home to be with him
Dun see it say babylon well waan fi own wi
Acknowledging that authorities want to control the artist
Mek dem know a di eagle an di hawk dem surroun wi
Repeating that the artist and his crew are surrounded by strong and powerful people
Swell, nuff a dem waan see di Killer get waste
Noticing that many people want to see the artist fail
Nuff fassyhole mi see a bawl pon mi case
Many people identified as fassyhole are complaining about the singer
Nuff a dem glad when police raid mi base
Many people are happy when the police raid the artist's base
A hell when wi buck face to face
There is tension when the singer and his enemies meet
Fassyhole an battyman nuh waan dem aroun mi
Refusing to let people identified as fassyhole and battyman near the singer
Waan see mi dead so dem can get fi moan mi
Stating that some people want to see the singer dead so they can mourn him
Battyman start come a stage show fi stone wi
Talking about how some people are coming to the stage show with intentions of stoning the artist
Mek dem know a di eagle and the hawk dem surround wi
Informing people that the artist and his crew are surrounded by strong and powerful people
Well bwoy like a mi nuh battyman nah guh crown mi
Stating that the singer is not a battyman and will not be overthrown
Media and the press a try dem best fi drown wi
Saying that the media and press are trying their best to ruin the singer's reputation
Cancel mi visa but dat still nuh ground mi
Stating that even though the artist's visa was cancelled, it did not stop him from succeeding
Mek dem know a di eagle and di hawk dem surround wi
Repeating that the artist and his crew are surrounded by strong and powerful people
Nuff time the fassyhole dem try fi clown mi
Recalling how people identified as fassyhole have tried to embarrass the artist
Nuff time mi have it an mi well waan fi soun it
Saying that the singer has something important to say and wants to share it
Nuff time mi friend dem haffi beg an haffi hol mi
Saying that the artist's friends have had to beg and support him
Mek dem know a di eagle and di hawk dem surround wi
Repeating that the singer and his crew are surrounded by strong and powerful people
Swell, wait deh man
Taking a pause and addressing someone
Look like a fool waan fi shame
Noticing that someone is trying to embarrass the singer
Which fassyhole mi hear a call up mi name
Asking which person identified as fassyhole has been calling the artist's name
But cool nuh man, dun know a who dem a guh blame
Trying to calm down and not place blame on anyone without knowing the facts
Suh mek mi just say it out plain
Deciding to speak bluntly and straightforwardly
Contributed by Aaliyah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.