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.
They Don't Know
Bounty Killer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They call to di rescue yo! huh
Di system was design to perplex you(warning)
And stress you, but to di promise land we best go aiyo yo yo
Ghetto youths don′t over dweet go easy in these suites
Fling a jamaica's feet
Nuh loose man! nuh loose move! nuh loose meds yow!
Don't mess up di youths head it′s warlord
Lease likkle thing di man dem ready fi pop it off
Grease up di ′tensil let di thing and di shot kick off(blow)
Youth dem want dem money(now)
Dem wi done you any(how)
Mi wi lay down inna bed and head top lick off
Three pickney mi seh just dead and it hut mi heart
Three dads mi si seh dem go ketch through crime stop tip off(yow)
Madness thing unno fi(low)
This a nuh police and nuh(show)
When you dead you just a dead you nuh have no part bawling
You ever hear a likkle baby bawling
When nuh food nuh reach him belly from morning
Tell mi what you expect watch him starving to death
And you go mek di baretta get brawling
Papa apply fi work and dem nuh call him
Mama use to sew shirt but now it stalling
Turn round a look pon her youth, caan find nuh food now fi calm him
Through they don't know how ghetto people grow
They say that they know but they really don′t know well!
Mr politician tek da one inna you head
Everybody have a family dem waan provide di bread
How you teach di youths dem dread you tell dem country inna di red
So nuh badda come back out ya come f*ck up di youths dem head
Tell how you feel,
When you set you system fi di youths dem haffi steal
Running down a fantasy and don't know what is real
Gunning down a mantasy if that can make dem heal
Teach dem love because a that di youths dem need
Through they don′t know how ghetto people grow
They say that they know but they really don't know well!
Bawling you ever hear a likkle baby bawling
When nuh food nuh reach him belly from morning
Tell mi what you expect watch him starving to death
And you go mek di baretta get brawling
Papa apply fi work and dem nuh call him
Mama use to sew shirt but now it stalling
Turn round a look pon her youth,
Can′t find nuh food now fi calm him well!
Through they don't know how ghetto people grow yo
They say that they know dead punks that they don't know
Kaboom! esco it′s poor people′s governor they call to di rescue
Bounty Killer's "They Don't Know" is a powerful song that delves into the struggles of those living in the ghetto, and the system that is designed to keep them down. The first few lines set the tone for the song as Kaboom! bang esco commands attention, introducing himself as the poor people's governor. He speaks about how the system is designed to stress and perplex the ghetto youth, but they must strive for the promise land. He urges them to take it easy, not to make hasty moves that could jeopardize their welfare. Bounty Killer enters the song with his characteristic style, warning against messing up the youths' heads, followed by a set of warnings about getting caught up in crime.
The song speaks about the stark realities that people living in the ghetto face; babies crying because they haven't eaten, parents who can't find work, and hungry children. The verses urge people to teach love and compassion rather than hatred and violence. It speaks about the youth who turn to crime because nobody is providing for them or helping them achieve their dreams. The song ends with Kaboom! esco telling everyone that they don't know anything about how ghetto people grow and how they struggle. The song is a heartfelt plea to the politicians and lawmakers in Jamaica to listen to the people's cries and do something about their situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Kaboom! bang esco, it's poor people's governor
Bounty Killer is introducing himself with a bang and stating that he represents the poor people.
They call to di rescue yo! huh
The poor people are calling for help and Bounty Killer is responding to their call.
Di system was design to perplex you(warning)
The societal system is designed to confuse and frustrate the poor people.
And stress you, but to di promise land we best go aiyo yo yo
Despite the stress, the poor people must persevere and strive towards a better future.
Ghetto youths don't over dweet go easy in these suites
The youth living in poverty must not get carried away with materialism when they achieve success.
Fling a jamaica's feet
The line is unclear and has no direct meaning in this context.
Nuh loose man! nuh loose move! nuh loose meds yow!
The youth must be careful and avoid negative influences.
Don't mess up di youths head it's warlord
Bounty Killer, the Warlord, is telling the people not to corrupt the youth's minds.
We gotta get news spread kaboom! deh deh bout deh deh bout well!
Bounty Killer is encouraging the people to spread the news and knowledge they gain to others.
Lease likkle thing di man dem ready fi pop it off
The poor people are ready to take action for small reasons.
Grease up di ′tensil let di thing and di shot kick off(blow)
Unknown meaning in this context.
Youth dem want dem money(now)
The youth want to earn money immediately.
Dem wi done you any(how)
They will do whatever is necessary to earn money.
Mi wi lay down inna bed and head top lick off
If anyone harms the youth, Bounty Killer will take violent action against them.
Three pickney mi seh just dead and it hut mi heart
Bounty Killer is expressing his sorrow and anger over the death of three children due to violence in their community.
Three dads mi si seh dem go ketch through crime stop tip off(yow)
Bounty Killer has witnessed three fathers being caught by the police due to a tip-off about their involvement in crime.
Madness thing unno fi(low)
Bounty Killer is warning the people to avoid getting involved in madness or foolishness.
This a nuh police and nuh(show)
The current situation is serious and not a joke or a game.
When you dead you just a dead you nuh have no part bawling
There is no point in mourning or expressing sadness after someone has died, as it cannot bring them back or change the situation.
You ever hear a likkle baby bawling
The cry of a hungry and malnourished baby is a heartbreaking sound.
When nuh food nuh reach him belly from morning
When the baby has not received any food since morning, it is a dire situation.
Tell mi what you expect watch him starving to death
Bounty Killer is emphasizing the severity of the situation and asking what can be expected from a starving child.
And you go mek di baretta get brawling
If the situation is not remedied, it may result in violence and the use of weapons, such as a baretta, as a last resort.
Papa apply fi work and dem nuh call him
A father applies for work, but never receives a call back from the employer.
Mama use to sew shirt but now it stalling
A mother who used to sew shirts is now struggling to make ends meet.
Turn round a look pon her youth, caan find nuh food now fi calm him
The mother looks at her child and cannot find any food to appease his hunger.
Through they don't know how ghetto people grow
The people who are not living in poverty do not understand the experience of growing up in the ghetto.
They say that they know but they really don't know well!
People may claim to understand the struggles of ghetto life, but they cannot comprehend it without experiencing it firsthand.
Mr politician tek da one inna you head
Bounty Killer is addressing the politicians who are responsible for improving the lives of the poor people and asking them to take action.
Everybody have a family dem waan provide di bread
Everybody has a family to provide for and the politicians must work towards creating opportunities for them to earn a living.
How you teach di youths dem dread you tell dem country inna di red
Bounty Killer is criticizing the politicians for creating an environment of fear and dread amongst the youth, while the country is in a state of economic crisis.
So nuh badda come back out ya come f*ck up di youths dem head
The politicians should not return to the people and continue to mislead and corrupt the youth.
Tell how you feel,
Bounty Killer is asking the politicians to express their true feelings about the situation and to take action accordingly.
When you set you system fi di youths dem haffi steal
The politicians are responsible for creating a system where the youth must turn to stealing in order to survive.
Running down a fantasy and don't know what is real
The youth are chasing a fantasy of material wealth and success, without understanding the reality of their situation.
Gunning down a mantasy if that can make dem heal
Unknown meaning in this context.
Teach dem love because a that di youths dem need
Bounty Killer is urging the people to teach the youth about love and compassion, as it is something they desperately need.
They say that they know dead punks that they don't know
People believe they understand the struggles of ghetto life despite being disconnected from the reality of it.
Through they don't know how ghetto people grow yo
Once again, Bounty Killer points out that those who are not living in poverty cannot understand the experience of those who are.
Writer(s): Clifton Bailey, Christopher Birch
Contributed by John D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
KBR. COM
Mi infancia en esta canción KAAABOOOMM 🇪🇦🇪🇦
Indigenous Proud, Proud Mi'kmaq
Still my favorite Bounty track, look into my eyes close 2nd, all his music 🔥 but the social justice tracks on a different level
Latonia Speakz
Love this! Bounty Killer, these songs are lit!❤❤❤❤❤
Kitony Smikle
bounty killa is the general in the dj army, and everyone know thats a fact! if he do more songs like this on the same type of flow, many artist carreer will slow up, warlord the song baaaaaaaaad, sell full! big up alliance!
Pree Dem
2020 until the end of time this still a 🔥
Joshua Spencer
The talent of Jamaica is quite pervasive and permeates all walks of its culture. Listen carefully to Bounty killer. Notice the eloquent way in which he juxtaposes the Jamaican creole. Away that can be easily likened to contemporary prose. Message music. Joshua Spencer
RODRIGO ALEXANDRE
Amo esse som
TreMuch Brown
This song goes hard!
Face Time
This is a Lifestyle for Hardcore Life
Elton Azevedo
the reason people call me BountyK1ll3r i know how to make hes voice and it was my nick name in the army:D i love this guy! for me the best singer ever <3