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.
Gangster Love
Bounty Killer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's leaving, she's hurting
But what a bond to break, what a bond, people try to instigate
But it's never wise to make decision when your mad
Remember, think, concentrate, it's better try to relate, straught, straight
Lady! Gal! Huh!
Say you leaving and the reason is clear
In case that I don't make it is the news you will hear
I got something to tell you baby are you prepared
You say that you are leaving and the thoughts had been grieving
Mistakes that I made, make me look deceiving
If I have her this morning you too wonderful this evening
Breakup to makeup, love is the reason
Say that you are leaving and the thoughts had been grieving
Mistakes that I made, make me look deceiving
If I have her this morning you too wonderful this evening
Breakup to makeup, love is the reason
Well hear mi now now spouse, yuh waan mi fi resign like I'm in di coast
Or tell mi look a work like a security post
Fi di boss fi di minimum and tek di gross
Well I'm a gangsta dat's first and foremost
Mi nuh wuk fi politician weh mi head like a dos
Woman yuh bring mi kids yuh have mi land and mi house
So let's tek a trip and go pon di north coast
Dat wey yuh a first spoke, cross!!!
Say you leaving and the reason is clear
Because I am a gangster and she's living in fear
In case that I don't make it is the news you will hear
I got something to tell you baby are you prepared
You say that you are leaving and the thoughts had been grieving
Mistakes that I made, make me look deceiving
If I have her this morning you too wonderful this evening
Breakup to makeup, love is the reason
Say that you are leaving and the thoughts had been grieving
Mistakes that I made, make me look deceiving
If I have her this morning you too wonderful this evening
Breakup to makeup, love is the reason
Why yuh wanna leave me in the cold
Di prettiest ting my eyes ever behold
Your worth to me more than money and gold
So make the love unforze so let's take a stroll
Killa nah go diss yah for no other soul
So get this straight and put it inna yuh mole
Sor for this love yuh nah fi pay mi nuh toll
Yuh have full control and nothing untold
Things I instigate but what a bond to break
I know yuh might lose faith
I might give yuh more a than you can take
Unconditional love have no estimate, lady!!!
Say you leaving and the reason is clear
Because I am a gangster and she's living in fear
In case that I don't make it is the news you will hear
I got something to tell you baby are you prepared
You say that you are leaving and the thoughts had been grieving
Mistakes that I made, make me look deceiving
If I have her this morning you too wonderful this evening
Breakup to makeup, love is the reason
Say that you are leaving and the thoughts had been grieving
Mistakes that I made, make me look deceiving
If I have her this morning you too wonderful this evening
Breakup to makeup, love is the reason
The lyrics to Bounty Killer's song "Gangster Love" touch on the complex relationship between a gangster and his lover. The woman in the song is threatening to leave the gangster, citing his dangerous lifestyle and the fear that it instills in her. However, the gangster is eager to salvage the relationship and pleads with her not to make any rash decisions while she's upset.
The song also explores the idea of the gangster's reputation and the ways in which it affects his personal life. The woman loves the gangster despite his violent reputation and is torn between her loyalty to him and her own safety.
Overall, the song paints a nuanced picture of the struggles that come with being involved with someone in a dangerous lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
She say that she's leaving, because I'm hot and deceiving (I don't know why)
She says she's leaving because I'm a dangerous gangster, and she feels scared. I don't quite understand why.
She's leaving, she's hurting
She's leaving, and it hurts.
But what a bond to break, what a bond, people try to instigate
It's such a strong bond to break, people try to interfere and cause problems.
But it's never wise to make decision when your mad
It's never a good idea to make decisions when you're angry.
Remember, think, concentrate, it's better try to relate, straught, straight
Remember to think carefully, stay focused, and try to listen and understand each other.
Lady! Gal! Huh!
Hey, lady! Hey, girl!
Say you leaving and the reason is clear
You're saying you're leaving because you're scared of me.
Because I am a gangster and she's living in fear
You're leaving because I'm a gangster, and it's making you scared to be with me.
In case that I don't make it is the news you will hear
If something happens to me, you'll hear about it in the news.
I got something to tell you baby are you prepared
I have something to tell you, babe. Are you ready to hear it?
Well hear mi now now spouse, yuh waan mi fi resign like I'm in di coast
Listen to me now, honey. You want me to quit being a gangster and work a boring job instead?
Or tell mi look a work like a security post
Or suggest I work as a security guard?
So let's tek a trip and go pon di north coast
Let's take a trip together up to the north coast.
Why yuh wanna leave me in the cold
Why do you want to leave me feeling hurt and alone?
Di prettiest ting my eyes ever behold
You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
Your worth to me more than money and gold
Your value to me is greater than any amount of money or gold.
Things I instigate but what a bond to break
I may start things, but it's still hard to break our bond.
I know yuh might lose faith
I know you may start to lose faith in me.
I might give yuh more than you can take
I might give you more challenges than you can handle.
Unconditional love have no estimate, lady!!!
True love has no limit or price, my dear!
Mistakes that I made, make me look deceiving
Mistakes I've made may have made me seem like I'm lying or hiding things.
If I have her this morning you too wonderful this evening
If I have you this morning, you're still just as amazing this evening.
Breakup to makeup, love is the reason
We may have fights and breakups, but love is always what brings us back together.
Contributed by Noah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sugerlipsxjamiewright4170
I like the background tune that he spit pon Good on any track! Beautiful music another beautiful Jamaican talent once more Jamaica full of outstanding talent!
@kirkqmibrown6692
Bwoy the killa doing a lovers rockers!! Swear it SHELLLLLLLLL!!!! One of the baddest Dj and still sounding fresh
@KingSyrian
2020 we still here !
@glennos8540
2021
@glennbeeldsnijder5254
2022.
@k3m505
2023.
@welshiegal1
Istanbul riddimmmmmmmmm swear i freaking love listening to this riddim
@davidpage407
Yellow tape riddim is dope too
@nyrobi-uw5sl
@@davidpage407 naa. It's amateurish
@gazagxrlx2974
To the bone