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.
Poor People
Bounty Killer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dem for the people really?
Huh, huh, huh, yo
Have on to yuh unfortunate self
Lead to insanity poor people killin themselves fi vanity
It's Rodney dem gettin angry
(Chorus: x2)
If everyday yuh get up politicians yuh a blame
Run to di media an go launch yuh complain
A lick on di leaders when tings still are di same
(Verse 1:)
It's just out a di bag whole heap a secrets bursting
If yuh stay a back deh how di hell yuh fi verse him
Everyday yuh get up politician yuh cursing politician yuh cursing situation worsen
But a nuh lie, if yuh nuh try, well yuh nah go get nuh bligh
All a look like yuh waan see bread drop from di sky
Everyday dem get up an see di same hollow point
Mi hear seh Shane get freed him go gone test di fry
Well it nuh funny it's mine to sink some orange an pine
An mek yuh own money an a nuh try tek away mine
Yuh got to mek pay, while di sun shine
Nuh stretch out yuh hand like yuh blind
(Chorus)
Else mi waan know how yuh a go gain
If everyday yuh get up politicians yuh a blame
Run to di media an go launch yuh complain
A lick on di leaders when tings still are di same
Poor people tell me how yuh a go gain
If everyday yuh get up politicians yuh a blame
Run to di media an go launch yuh complain
A lick on di leaders when tings still are di same
(Verse 2:)
Warlord di role model footstep oonu fi follow
Show di yute dem di light when di path get narrow
An tell dem nuh chew more den weh dem can swallow
Nuh go outta deep if yuh see mi in di shallow
Wedda di eagle or di hawk show wi a better tommorrow
Mi nuh waan fi trust mi nuh waan fi borrow mi nuh waan nuh man fi blow mi marrow
Yuh nuh see seh gosling limpin it a fly like a sparrow
Afta success mi shoot like an arrow
(Chorus:)
Mi waan know how yuh a go gain
If everyday yuh get up politicians yuh a blame
Run to di media an go launch yuh complain
A lick on di leaders when tings still are di same
Poor people tell me how yuh a go gain
If everyday yuh get up politicians yuh a blame
Run to di media an go launch yuh complain
A lick on di leaders when tings still are di same
(Verse 1)
(Chorus:)
Else mi waan know how yuh a go gain
If everyday yuh get up politicians yuh a blame
Run to di media an go launch yuh complain
A lick on di leaders when tings still are di same
Poor people tell me how yuh a go gain
If everyday yuh get up politicians yuh a blame
Run to di media an go launch yuh complain
A lick on di leaders when tings still are di same
(Outro:)
Nutting a go change, how a di weather
An dem change dem badmind to worse
It's Bounty Killer checkin out
Bounty Killer's song "Poor People" is a commentary on the struggles and injustices faced by poor Jamaicans, particularly those who are dependent on politicians and leaders who do not have their best interests at heart. The song's opening lines introduce the theme of insanity and desperation that can result from poverty, as poor people may feel as though they have no other options than to resort to extreme measures. Bounty Killer urges poor people to take responsibility for their own lives and not rely on politicians or the media to solve their problems.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the futility of blaming politicians for their problems, as nothing will change if poor people do not take action themselves. The second verse offers words of inspiration and encouragement, with Bounty Killer suggesting that poor people should look up to him as a positive role model and strive to build better futures for themselves, even in the face of adversity.
Overall, the song reflects the frustration and anger felt by those who are disenfranchised and oppressed by a system that is supposed to work for their benefit but often fails to do so. Bounty Killer calls on poor people to take action and work towards a brighter future, rather than simply complaining or relying on those in power to make changes for them.
Line by Line Meaning
Dem for the people really?
Is the government really there for the people?
Have on to yuh unfortunate self
Take care of yourself if you're in a bad position
Lead to insanity poor people killin themselves fi vanity
Poor people are driven to insanity and even suicide because of their desire for material possessions
It's Rodney dem gettin angry
Rodney (Bounty Killer) is angry about the situation
Poor people tell me how yuh a go gain
Bounty Killer is asking how can poor people improve their situation
If everyday yuh get up politicians yuh a blame
Blaming politicians every day won't help poor people make progress
Run to di media an go launch yuh complain
Complaining to the media won't change anything for poor people
A lick on di leaders when tings still are di same
Criticizing the leaders won't change anything if the situation for poor people remains the same
It's just out a di bag whole heap a secrets bursting
There are many secrets coming to light about the government
If yuh stay a back deh how di hell yuh fi verse him
If you don't speak up, how will you challenge the politicians?
Politician yuh cursing politician yuh cursing situation worsen
Cursing politicians won't solve anything and the situation will only get worse
But a nuh lie, if yuh nuh try, well yuh nah go get nuh bligh
If poor people don't make an effort, they won't receive any help
All a look like yuh waan see bread drop from di sky
It seems like poor people are waiting for a miracle to improve their situation
Everyday dem get up an see di same hollow point
Every day poor people face the same struggles with no improvement
Mi hear seh Shane get freed him go gone test di fry
Shane was released from prison and risked going back by breaking the law again
Well it nuh funny it's mine to sink some orange an pine
It's serious business to earn money and provide for yourself
An mek yuh own money an a nuh try tek away mine
The focus should be on making your own money instead of taking what belongs to others
Yuh got to mek pay, while di sun shine
Take advantage of opportunities while they are available
Nuh stretch out yuh hand like yuh blind
Don't act helpless and expect others to give you everything
Warlord di role model footstep oonu fi follow
Bounty Killer is a role model for young people to follow
Show di yute dem di light when di path get narrow
Bounty Killer wants to guide young people when they face difficult times
An tell dem nuh chew more den weh dem can swallow
Don't take on more than you can handle
Nuh go outta deep if yuh see mi in di shallow
Don't try to do more than you're capable of just because other successful people are doing it
Wedda di eagle or di hawk show wi a better tommorrow
Whether it's through power or intelligence, there can be a better future
Mi nuh waan fi trust mi nuh waan fi borrow mi nuh waan nuh man fi blow mi marrow
Bounty Killer doesn't want to rely on anyone else or put himself in debt
Yuh nuh see seh gosling limpin it a fly like a sparrow
Even with a disadvantage, there are still opportunities to succeed
Afta success mi shoot like an arrow
Once successful, Bounty Killer will continue to rise higher
Nutting a go change, how a di weather
Nothing will change, it's just like the weather
An dem change dem badmind to worse
The mentality of badminding others keeps getting worse
It's Bounty Killer checkin out
Bounty Killer ends the song
Contributed by Daniel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jagdeodeonandan7580
Truer words never spoken!.
@dudleyrob8056
Real music
@allianceboss6674
big up di boss one voice
@nestamarleychapo5594
Notinn eve change only di we
Whether and dem change dem badmind to worse
@andybernard2120
all poor people,u king dis