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.
Nuh Whaa Know
Bounty Killer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Politician dem cyaa choose fi mi
Dem look confuse to mi
A time dem bwoy get use to mi
Nuh tell mi how you rich caw mi nuh waan know
Nuh tell mi who a switch caw mi nuh waan know
Caw man fi stay straight like cornrow
Dem a mash up the country Jah know
Dembuy so much gun that mi waan know
Why you stop the people fun a that mi waan know
How the Garrison a run that mi waan know
Nothing naw gwaan make a change
Unuh go in a the Garrison and left a change
Not even Mongrel dog unuh left a mange
Look how much innocent family unuh separate
Innocent youth blood a decorate
Look how much ghetto youth inna jail nuh catch a case
Wi fi nam placka-placka rice in a plate
While you ck up in a couch and a nam stake
House a parliament, unuh listen mi argument
The money dem gi wi a week time cant even pay the rent
Now tax it left a dent
Nuh mention the current
Wi bridge it and take it off
Then police come correl the endz
Dem stock market a melt
So where's the fking help
Give thanks fi mi talent
Got couple hits under mi belt
Dem class wi as the poor and fi dem category a wealth
Dem diseases dem create a fk up wi health
(Repeat Verse 1)
In "Nuh Whaa Know," Bounty Killer addresses the corrupt politicians of Jamaica and the issues affecting the country's garrisons, or economically disadvantaged areas. He urges that people not bring him rumors or negative news about others because he does not want to hear about people's wealth or betrayal. The song aims to bring attention to the problems in Jamaica and encourages people to demand better from their leaders, as they have failed to address the issues that need attention.
Bounty Killer's message in this song is crystal clear: it is time to prioritize the issues facing the nation, including poverty, crime, and unemployment, and for the politicians to be held accountable for their actions. He asserts that the country's politics is not going anywhere until those in power take the necessary steps towards progress. Additionally, he highlights the dangerous effects of gun violence and the negative effects it has on families and communities.
The song takes a defiant tone, emphasizing the need for unity and demanding justice for those who have suffered as a result of Jamaica's political and social struggles. Bounty Killer hopes to encourage his listeners to take action in their communities and fight for change.
Line by Line Meaning
Nuh carry no news to mi
Do not bring any rumors to my attention
Politician dem cyaa choose fi mi
I cannot be swayed by politicians
Dem look confuse to mi
They appear confused to me
A time dem bwoy get use to mi
They will eventually get used to me
Nuh tell mi how you rich caw mi nuh waan know
Do not tell me how you got wealthy, I do not want to know
Nuh tell mi who a switch caw mi nuh waan know
Do not tell me who switched loyalties, I do not want to know
Caw man fi stay straight like cornrow
A man should stay on the right path like the straight rows of cornrows
Dem a mash up the country Jah know
They are destroying the country, God knows
How the country a run a that mi waan know
I want to know how the country is being run
Dem buy so much gun that mi waan know
I want to know why they are buying so many guns
Why you stop the people fun a that mi waan know
I want to know why they are stopping people from having fun
How the Garrison a run that mi waan know
I want to know how the Garrison is being run
Nothing naw gwaan make a change
Nothing is happening to bring about change
Unuh go in a the Garrison and left a change
Go into the Garrison and make a change
Not even Mongrel dog unuh left a mange
You did not even leave a mange on a stray dog
Look how much innocent family unuh separate
Look at how many innocent families you have separated
Innocent youth blood a decorate
Innocent youth's blood is being shed
Look how much ghetto youth inna jail nuh catch a case
Look at how many young people from the ghetto are in jail for no reason
Wi fi nam placka-placka rice in a plate
We have to eat plain rice on a plate
While you ck up in a couch and a nam stake
While you sit on a couch and eat steak
House a parliament, unuh listen mi argument
In Parliament, listen to my argument
The money dem gi wi a week time cant even pay the rent
The money they give us in a week is not enough to pay rent
Now tax it left a dent
Now the tax has left a mark
Nuh mention the current
Do not forget the present situation
Wi bridge it and take it off
We barter and take things off
Then police come correl the endz
Then police come and control the neighborhoods
Dem stock market a melt
Their stock market is declining
So where's the fking help
So, where is the help?
Give thanks fi mi talent
I am grateful for my talent
Got couple hits under mi belt
I have a few successful hits
Dem class wi as the poor and fi dem category a wealth
They classify us as poor, and for them it is a category of wealth
Dem diseases dem create a fk up wi health
The diseases they create mess up our health
(Repeat Verse 1)
Repeated first verse
Writer(s): bounty killer
Contributed by Grayson R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tegotracey9398
y dem tune yah cnt b number 1,dat mi wah know,big up d general
@omaranthony5055
bounty killer is d hardest n baddest thing in music. ......real General this....link up killer u buddy got nuff songs in book to give u to sound........large up me killer
@tajhealthnature8570
Respect to the killa the Real Dance hall hands down.
@lawrencegrey7401
The General Speaks....Cross Mad!!!
@dj.ronniektop-shatta9462
up mi general,that mi wah know.
@kendasuddeth1651
Alliance Bounty Killer Ah Mad Kill out de Riddim
@patriciawignal4955
The general 💯👍👊🎤💯💯
@Badrastv
General if life 👍🏽➕➕➕➕➕ jah now
@davideli22
ONE GENERAL! !!
@elevelzmuzik144
Real dancehall poor people defender !!!!