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.
Suicide or Murder
Bounty Killer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A who dem a try devour, me and mi 45 Haskell got the power
Lawd a mercy
Copper shot and Black Rhino gonna tek dem like a rain and storm and shower
Lawd a mercy
Dem gonna die this hour
Well!
Dem diss Junglist wit dem ya big long gun ya
Plus Tivoli man dem nuh come ya fi linger
Boy head a buss like a gas cylinder
Again
A suicide or murder
Dem diss Seaview wit dem ya brand new gun ya
Waterhouse badman nuh come ya fi linger
Dem head is like a bus with gunshot passenger
Yes boy
As me see mi contender
I nah retreat and mi nah surrender
Gunshot attack dem like a rat inna blender
Gunshot dem get and Riverton a di sender
Hey dem shoulda know, mi a di Earth defender
Wild like a tiger or yu kick like ninja
Gun nuh have no sense and it nuh have no behavior
If yu fuck yourself, mi gun get outta order
Nuh ready to kill, then wha you a do een ya?
Diss man from Rockfort and man from Rema
Gleaner!
A suicide or murder
Dem diss Dunkirk wit dem ya big long gun ya
Southside badman nuh come ya fi linger
Dem head a explode like a gas cylinder
Yes boy
Murder them, murder them
Test the most high, it's a suicide mission
MCs dead, all others fled, fearing the power
Thunder and lightning, lyrics like hot lead showers
In the desert or in the jungle
When I bust off shots, I blow up spots and competition turns humble
Guns rumble, bodies tumble but I can't be injured
When I kill off the contenders, I escape like a ninja
A suicide or murder
Dem diss Rockfort wit dem ya big long gun ya
And me and mi gun dem nuh come ya fi linger
Boy head a buss like a gas cylinder
Again!
A suicide or murder
Dem diss duck man man wit dem ya big long gun ya
Burro Banton dem nuh come ya fi linger
Now your head a buss like a gas cylinder
Yes boy
Mi gun a drive like driver
Just get a medal as a scuba diver
Boy say dem wise but Jazzwad dem wiser
Long time we deya as some great survivor
Tan deh seh yu wicked and yu bad like spider
Kill or be killed, that's eeda or eida
Sluggy Rankin, him nah go pet dem neither
Yes boy
A suicide or murder
Dem diss Junglist wit dem ya big long gun ya
Black Roses dem nuh come ya fi linger
Now your head a buss like a gas cylinder
Again!
A suicide or murder
Dem diss Maxfield wit dem ya big long gun ya
And Sunrise dem nuh come ya fi linger
Smaddy head buss like a gas cylinder
Yes boy
When my mind spray, you must get flat
Or snatch up your girl and gun and shoot your way out the back
When I fire, the lingo blows out your rib cage
You retire the sound and not because of old age
Blood splatters and holy fire turns to dawn
Killing smooth and silently like the Rasta James Bond
Armed and dangerous, so grab your pistols
But like an MX missile, I'll rip right through you
Some rather die, then face a fate worse than hell
With a bounty on your head and Bounty Killer on your tail
A suicide or murder
Dem diss water house wit dem ya big long gun ya
Black Roses dem nuh come ya fi linger
Now your head a buss like a gas cylinder
Yes boy
Mi gun cut like razor
Just get the gun weh de call dem lazer
And I bust a shot mi gun a buck peel lazer
The lyrics of Bounty Killer's song Suicide or Murder touches on the violent reality of Jamaica's gang culture, where guns rule and "dissing" another faction can lead to deadly consequences. In the first verse, Bounty Killer establishes that he has the power to protect himself and his crew from any potential threat. He warns that disrespecting them can lead to a suicide or murder, as they are not afraid to defend themselves. Bounty Killer then goes on to mention several neighborhoods where such violence is commonplace, implying that he has allies in each of them who are willing to back him up. He also makes it clear that he is not afraid to fight back, boasting about his skills with a gun and his ability to take down his enemies.
The second verse continues in a similar vein, with Bounty Killer claiming that he will not back down from any challenge. He uses violent imagery to emphasize his point, saying that he will attack his enemies "like a rat inna blender" and that his gun is "wild like a tiger." He also references other well-known dancehall artists, such as Sluggy Rankin and Burro Banton, implying that they are similarly dangerous and respected in their neighborhoods. The chorus repeats the message that suicide or murder is the inevitable outcome for anyone who tries to take on Bounty Killer and his crew.
Overall, Suicide or Murder is a gritty and unflinching depiction of the Jamaican gang culture, where violence is often the only way to survive. The lyrics are a reflection of the harsh reality faced by many young men in Jamaica, where the allure of gang life can often seem like the only way out.
Line by Line Meaning
Lawd a mercy
Expresses surprise and wonder.
A who dem a try devour, me and mi 45 Haskell got the power
Asks who is trying to overpower him, and explains that he and his gun have the ability to fight back.
Copper shot and Black Rhino gonna tek dem like a rain and storm and shower
Suggests that Copper shot and Black Rhino's attacks will be forceful and heavy like a storm.
Dem gonna die this hour
Asserts that his opponents will die soon.
A suicide or murder
Warns that his opponents will either kill themselves or be killed by him.
Dem diss Junglist wit dem ya big long gun ya
States that his enemies are provoking or challenging him with their guns.
Plus Tivoli man dem nuh come ya fi linger
Suggests that Tivoli men are not hesitant to join the fight.
Boy head a buss like a gas cylinder
Insinuates that his opponents' heads will be blown apart by his gunshots, like exploding gas cylinders.
Dem diss Seaview wit dem ya brand new gun ya
Says that his enemies are challenging him with their brand new guns.
Waterhouse badman nuh come ya fi linger
Implies that badmen from Waterhouse are not afraid to fight.
Dem head is like a bus with gunshot passenger
Compares his enemies' heads to buses with gunshot marks, like bullet wounds on a passenger's body.
As me see mi contender
Narrates that he sees his opponent.
I nah retreat and mi nah surrender
Declares that he is not going to back down, nor give up.
Gunshot attack dem like a rat inna blender
States that his gun attacks will be fast, and his enemies will be caught off guard like rats in a blender.
Gunshot dem get and Riverton a di sender
States that Riverton is where his enemies' gun injuries came from.
Hey dem shoulda know, mi a di Earth defender
Asserts that he is defending the earth.
Wild like a tiger or yu kick like ninja
Compares himself to a wild tiger or ninja - agile and deadly.
Gun nuh have no sense and it nuh have no behavior
States that guns have no sense or behaviour.
If yu fuck yourself, mi gun get outta order
Warns that if someone messes with him, his gun will react chaotically.
Nuh ready to kill, then wha you a do een ya?
Challenges his enemies to fight back if they are not ready to be killed.
Diss man from Rockfort and man from Rema
Suggests that his opponents are from Rockfort and Rema.
Gleaner!
Expresses that he is victorious.
Dem diss Dunkirk wit dem ya big long gun ya
States that his enemies are trying to overpower him with their big guns in Dunkirk.
Southside badman nuh come ya fi linger
Implies that Southside badmen are not afraid to fight.
Dem head a explode like a gas cylinder
Compares his enemies' heads to exploding gas cylinders.
Test the most high, it's a suicide mission
States that his enemies are challenging God in fighting him, which is as good as committing suicide.
MCs dead, all others fled, fearing the power
Suggests that his opponents are either dead, or have fled in fear of his power.
Thunder and lightning, lyrics like hot lead showers
Compares his lyrics to thunder, and suggests that when he spits them out, they feel like hot lead showers that are painful and forceful.
In the desert or in the jungle
Narrates that he can fight anywhere.
When I bust off shots, I blow up spots and competition turns humble
Suggests that his gunshots can obliterate his opponent's position, and make his competition willing to submit.
Guns rumble, bodies tumble but I can't be injured
Suggests that in gunfights, his opponents are usually injured, but he is always unscathed.
When I kill off the contenders, I escape like a ninja
Suggests that once he eliminates his opponents, he disappears quickly like a ninja.
Dem diss Rockfort wit dem ya big long gun ya
States that his current enemies are from Rockfort and are trying to overpower him with their big guns.
And me and mi gun dem nuh come ya fi linger
Asserts that he and his guns are not here to wait around - they are here to fight.
Burro Banton dem nuh come ya fi linger
Suggests that Badmen from Burro Banton will show up ready to fight.
Now your head a buss like a gas cylinder
Compares his enemies' heads to gas cylinders that are exploding apart.
Mi gun a drive like driver
Compares himself to a driver guiding his gun.
Just get a medal as a scuba diver
Narrates that he just got a medal for his performance as a scuba diver.
Boy say dem wise but Jazzwad dem wiser
Suggests that while his enemies may believe they are wise, Jazzwad is much wiser.
Long time we deya as some great survivor
Asserts that he is a great survivor who has been around for a long time.
Tan deh seh yu wicked and yu bad like spider
Suggests that his enemies refer to themselves as wicked and deadly like spiders.
Kill or be killed, that's eeda or eida
Suggests that in this game, it's either him killing his opponent or his opponent killing him.
Sluggy Rankin, him nah go pet dem neither
Suggests that Sluggy Rankin will not be kind to his enemies, either.
Dem diss water house wit dem ya big long gun ya
States that his enemies are using big guns to overpower him in Water House.
Now your head a buss like a gas cylinder
States that once he uses his gun to attack, his enemies' heads will explode like gas cylinders.
Mi gun cut like razor
Compares his gun to a razor - sharp and effective.
Just get the gun weh de call dem lazer
Narrates that he just obtained a gun called Lazer.
And I bust a shot mi gun a buck peel lazer
Performed a gun shot with his gun labeled Lazer.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: RODNEY PRICE, ROBERT DIGGS, JERU KENDRICK, COCKEY WOODS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind