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.
Hip-Hopera
Bounty Killer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Michael Jackson brought you Thriller
It made all the gun-man hollar
Mack 11 guard your grilla
Why you gwan, watch out for Babylon, MC's babble on and on I phenom,
Bomb like Ethiopians, not Italions, Queen Asheba, balance like a Libra,
Rain like meteor storms, that change forms like the pillars of Islam,
Purity to clean the cess pool, the next crew, will be comprised of kings
And queens wearing crowns and holiday scepters, facing Mecca, making
Records, raiding biblio-techas, I sip nectars with gods in the
Streetapparel, keep the path straight and narrow while we bombin' on
Pharaoh, so Bounty Killer pour the sorrel let's make plans for tomorrow,
'Cause if it's down a Sodom and Gommorah Refugees we nah go so
[Chorus]
So talk weel if you vex, try and jump in a mi chest, you Mr. Punk, well
Come and do your next best, mi end you distress, mi lay you to rest,
Askel 45, Fugees dem tech. Well talk well if you vex, try and jump inna
Mi chest, you Mr. Punk, well come and do your next best, mi end you
Distress, mi lay you to rest, rappers from the east and rappers from the
West, well
Yo, five years old I heard shots out the window, I thought that it was
Zorro, driving in from Mexico, I asked my father Pablo who the hell is
This Paco, he said It's Bounty Killer, He's driving in from Montego.
That's when shots start to echo from yah so and from deh so, well that
Is the life of a nigga from the ghetto, moving 40 kilo, from here to
Puerto Rico, smoke my manifico, but I never do perico.
Yo, this is a sound clash, you ain't fit for the job, you're vagina,
And you're making my cock hard, you want to rap, here's presents, go rap
It in a box, you versus me is like a mouse versus a ox, Wyclef,
Preacher's son, I sing a hym the lights get dim, reflection of the end,
Is your face facing a coffin, oops, to abstract so you kill me with
Gaps, figments of your imagination, you never delt with incarceration.
Thought I heard you want to be my rival, askel 45 a it a idol, them
Start war end no seek survival, Refugees we gonna treat them
Detrimental, Punks, fools.
Another sound boy dies, slow deth, Refugee Camp, Bounty Killer
[Chorus]
Through the temples of doom somehow we managed to bloom like blossoms,
By any means necessary said Malcolm, nights before battle we play dead
Like possums, mimimizing our losses like caution to the maximum,
Stratiges for the Refugees, how many mics do you trip, I say not to many
Yo, which man runs from my magnum,
Haitian shot a man
Them blame Jamaicans
[Chorus]
Yeah, yeah yeah
Well talk well if you vex, try and jump in a mi chest, you Mr. Punk,
Well come and do your next best, mi end you distress, mi lay you to
Rest, askel 45, New York gun take, well talk if you vex, try and jump in
A mi chest, so Mr. Punk, well come and do your next best, mi end you
Distress, mi lay you to rest, askel 45, California take, well, well
Bounty Killer on the borderline, Refugee camp, Wyclef, L. Boogie,
Prazwell and it don't stop.
The lyrics to "Hip-Hopera" by Bounty Killer featuring The Fugees are a combination of braggadocio, social commentary, and wordplay. The track starts with the chorus, which references Michael Jackson's hit song "Thriller" and how it made even the most hardened gun-men take notice. Bounty Killer then jumps in with rhymes about being a phenom and raining like meteor storms, which change forms like the pillars of Islam. He also talks about the importance of purity and warns other rappers to watch out for Babylon.
The Fugees join in and take turns delivering verses that touch on themes like violence in the ghetto, social justice, and media representation of marginalized communities. They also showcase their impressive wordplay and rhyming skills. Wyclef Jean raps about being a "preacher's son" and evokes imagery of facing a coffin. Lauryn Hill delivers lines about minimizing losses and draws a connection to Malcolm X's famous quote, "by any means necessary." Pras Michel adds a verse about how Haitians are often blamed for violent crimes instead of the actual perpetrators.
Overall, "Hip-Hopera" is an impressive and complex piece of rap music that blends different styles, themes, and perspectives. It's a testament to the talent of both Bounty Killer and The Fugees.
Line by Line Meaning
Michael Jackson brought you Thriller
Michael Jackson made the album Thriller
It made all the gun-man hollar
The album attracted the attention of violent individuals
Mack 11 guard your grilla
Be prepared to protect yourself and your possessions from danger
Why you gwan, watch out for Babylon, MC's babble on and on
Be careful of those in power, as some rappers talk without saying anything meaningful
I phenom, Bomb like Ethiopians, not Italions
I am a phenomenon, and I have explosive energy like Ethiopians (not Italians, who are known for bombastic showmanship)
Queen Asheba, balance like a Libra
Queen Asheba is balanced and fair, like a person born under the sign of Libra
Rain like meteor storms, that change forms like the pillars of Islam
I have a powerful and unpredictable impact, like a meteor storm, and I am willing to adapt and grow like the pillars of Islam
Make the best rule, and fuck the rest who'll, it takes one drop of Purity to clean the cess pool
I will make the best decisions, and ignore those who disagree. It only takes a small amount of purity to fix a corrupt situation
the next crew, will be comprised of kings And queens wearing crowns and holiday scepters, facing Mecca, making Records, raiding biblio-techas
In the future, there will be a new generation of talented and influential artists, who will be respected like royalty and create innovative art, while also exploring knowledge and history
I sip nectars with gods in the Streetapparel, keep the path straight and narrow while we bombin' on Pharaoh, so Bounty Killer pour the sorrel let's make plans for tomorrow
I am in touch with divine inspiration and knowledge, while still staying focused on achieving my goals. Let's make some plans for the future, while also standing up against those in power
'Cause if it's down a Sodom and Gommorah Refugees we nah go so
If society becomes corrupt and immoral, the Refugees will not follow that path
So talk weel if you vex, try and jump in a mi chest, you Mr. Punk, well Come and do your next best, mi end you distress, mi lay you to rest, Askel 45, Fugees dem tech.
Speak carefully if you're angry, because I am prepared to defend myself. You will regret trying to challenge me. The Fugees and Askel 45 are skilled and dangerous
Yo, five years old I heard shots out the window, I thought that it was Zorro, driving in from Mexico
When I was young, I heard gunshots and thought it was a fictional character. Violence is so common in my life that it seems like a storybook event
I asked my father Pablo who the hell is This Paco, he said It's Bounty Killer, He's driving in from Montego.
I asked my father who the gunmen were, and he told me that it was Bounty Killer driving into town
That's when shots start to echo from yah so and from deh so, well that Is the life of a nigga from the ghetto, moving 40 kilo, from here to Puerto Rico, smoke my manifico, but I never do perico.
Gunshots can be heard all around, and this is a reality for someone living in the ghetto. They may also be involved in drug smuggling, but not use drugs themselves
Yo, this is a sound clash, you ain't fit for the job, you're vagina, And you're making my cock hard, you want to rap, here's presents, go rap It in a box, you versus me is like a mouse versus a ox
This is a battle of music styles, and you are not good enough. Your attempts to prove yourself only make me more excited. You only got into rap because it was fashionable. If you try to compete with me, you will fail horribly
Wyclef, Preacher's son, I sing a hym the lights get dim, reflection of the end, Is your face facing a coffin, oops, to abstract so you kill me with Gaps, figments of your imagination, you never delt with incarceration.
Wyclef is the son of a preacher and brings a spiritual energy to his music. His lyrics are so profound that they bring a sense of darkness, and make the listener reflect on their own mortality. You may use vague and confusing lyrics, but they will not defeat me. You have never faced the struggles of prison life
Thought I heard you want to be my rival, askel 45 a it a idol, them Start war end no seek survival, Refugees we gonna treat them Detrimental, Punks, fools.
I thought you wanted to compete with me, but you are not worthy. Askel 45 is my ally and a great rapper. If you start a war, you will not survive. The Refugee Camp will show you no mercy
Through the temples of doom somehow we managed to bloom like blossoms, By any means necessary said Malcolm, nights before battle we play dead Like possums, mimimizing our losses like caution to the maximum, Stratiges for the Refugees, how many mics do you trip, I say not to many
Despite the challenges and danger we face, we have grown and thrived like flowers. Malcolm X emphasized the importance of perseverance and self-defense. We have learned to be strategic and avoid unnecessary losses. The Refugee Camp has many talented artists, and we will not lose easily
Yo, which man runs from my magnum, Haitian shot a man Them blame Jamaicans
Whoever fears my gun will be caught. When a Haitian person commits a crime, Jamaicans are often blamed unfairly
Well talk well if you vex, try and jump in a mi chest, you Mr. Punk, Well come and do your next best, mi end you distress, mi lay you to Rest, askel 45, New York gun take, well talk if you vex, try and jump inna Mi chest, so Mr. Punk, well come and do your next best, mi end you Distress, mi lay you to rest, askel 45, California take, well, well
If you have a problem with me, speak up and be prepared for a fight. I am not afraid to defend myself. Askel 45 will support me whether we are in New York or California
Bounty Killer on the borderline, Refugee camp, Wyclef, L. Boogie, Prazwell and it don't stop.
Bounty Killer is pushing the boundaries of music, supported by the Refugee Camp and other talented artists like Wyclef, L. Boogie, and Prazwell
[Chorus]
Repeats the chorus
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: JERRY N DUPLESSIS, LAURYN N HILL, WYCLEF NEL N JEAN, SAMUEL N MICHEL, RODNEY PRICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andrae Cummings
This was so epic when this song came out the collab was an authentic appreciation for dancehall sounds and talent, Bounty Killer's delivery was superb and a true representation of the culture, timeless classic...still listening in 2020..
kem
The general from day one bro , nah change until death killer forever
Andrae Cummings
a true rep of dancehall the era and the culture..bounty being himself vocals on point a real classic
Leo Kyng
2022
mega1971tron
Lauryn is so lyrical, and her delivery is flawless. Undoubtedly she has the hardest verse in this song. Man hip hop is dead nowΒ
Quinten Pressley
Hip hop is far from dead. Just gotta do some digging now
ian Brown
Say no fucking more fam, straight facts ,, listen the way she dropped ooooooooowwweeeeee!!!!!
L-STORM
@Quinten Pressley βπΎπ―π―π―
Breno O.
Hip hop is not dead, in fact it has more variety of styles than it ever had before
Drew Daringer88
@Breno O. Nah hip hop is more or less dead. You have the whole Griselda crew on the east and maybe a few cats on the west coast but that's about it. Hip hop by definition has always been defined by lyrical exercises regardless of the theme. All of that has gone to shit now though. Not sure what you would label the clowns these days that jump on a track and can't even articulate a basic sentence but know this - that shit ain't hip hop.