Bounty Killer

Infobox musical artist
Name = Bounty Killer

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Img_capt = Bounty Killer performing in December 2006
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Rodney Basil Price
Alias = The General, Warlord, Five Star General, Ghetto Gladiator, Poor People Governor, Grung Gad (Ground God), Seven Star Salvation Army General
Phrases = Ayo Yallo, Bullet, Bung Bang, Kaboom, Connect, People Dead
Born = birth date and age|1972|06|12
Origin = flagicon|Jamaica Kingston, Jamaica
Instrument =
Genre = Reggae, dancehall
Occupation =
Years_active = 1990 – Present
Label = VP Records
Associated_acts = Alliance
URL = [http://www.bountykiller.com/ BountyKiller.com]
Notable_instruments =

Bounty Killer (born Rodney Basil Price June 12, 1972 in Kingston, Jamaica) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. He is the founder of a dancehall collective, known as The Alliance.

Career

Early start

The last son in a family of nine, he grew up in a rough part of Kingston, Jamaica, in the neighborhood of Seaview Gardens. His mother stayed at home while his father went out to earn a living. While walking through a rough neighborhoods of Kingston, he was caught in a crossfire and hit by a bullet. He spent several days in the hospital, and it was during this time that he decided to change his name to Bounty Killer.Fact|date=May 2008

1990s

During the early 1990s, Bounty Killer was encouraged by his friend and deejay Boom Dandymite to hang around the studio of producer King Jammy in Kingston. This lead to Bounty Killer getting the chance to record for King Jammy. One of Bounty Killer's first tunes was the "Coppershot." Coppershot was heard by New York-based Johnny Wonder, a pivotal figure in North American Dancehall Reggae, who went crazy when he heard it, instantly recognising the potential of its hardcore appeal to the urban markets Stateside. Ironically Coppershot became an underground hit in New York before taking off in Jamaica

Beginning in 1993, Bounty Killer became a household name in Jamaica due to his well received performance at the annual hardcore festival Sting held in the days after Christmas. Fact|date=February 2008. Bounty Killer has tried to protect his individuality and this has caused many problems both on and off stage with various singers. Bounty Killer and Merciless got into a fist fight on stage during the Sting festival in 1997, and has made headlines throughout Jamaica for the rivalry with Beenie Man as both claim that the other has stolen each others act.Fact|date=February 2008

Bounty Killer, while updating the sound of the reggae riddim, for example, using electric guitars and no piano riff, he has expressed disdain for popular rap, which he called "embarrassing to reggae," even while collaborating with Wu Tang Clan, Mobb Deep and others he considers hardcore. [ cite book | last = Kenner | first = Rob | title = The Vibe History of Hip Hop | publisher = Three Rivers Press | date = 1999 | location = New York | pages = 350-7]

During the 1990s, Bounty Killer has voiced for producers and labels in Jamaica releasing songs such as "Defend the Poor", "Mama", "Book, Book, Book", "Babylon System" and "Down in the Ghetto". The 1990s was also the decade in which Bounty Killer became known in USA and in Europe and ended up with several combinations with big artists like Masta Killa, The Fugees, Wyclef Jean, Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga, No Doubt and AZ. The decade of many albums released, the new millennium seems to be the decade of many singles released. While working with producers in Jamaica and abroad, Bounty Killer insists on releasing singles almost on a daily basis.

2000s

In 2006, Bounty Killer signed with VP Records and the compilation album "Nah No Mercy - The Warlord Scrolls" was released on November 7, 2006. He has been credited with having inspired many young artists such as Mavado, Vybz Kartel and several other members of The Alliance.

Controversies

Homophobia

In 2003, Bounty Killer canceled two of his concerts in Britain because he feared arrest for his inciting of homophobia and hatred of homosexuals. His use of words calling for murder to the LGBT community raised fears among the community and OutRage! magazine complained to the police. [ [http://www.petertatchell.net/popmusic/bountykiller.htm Peter Tatchell] ]

Discography

Albums

* "Roots, Reality & Culture" (VP Records) (1994)
* "Jamaica’s Most Wanted" (Greensleeves Records) (1994)
*"Guns Out" (Greensleeves Records) (1994)
*"Face To Face" (VP Records) (1994)
*"Down In The Ghetto" (Greensleeves Records) (1994)
*"No Argument" (Greensleeves Records) (1995)
*"My Xperience" (VP Records/TVT Records) (1996)
*"Ghetto Gramma" (Greensleeves Records) (1997)
*"Next Millennium" (VP Records/TVT Records) (1998)
*"5th Element" (VP Records) (1999)
*"Ghetto Dictionary – The Mystery" (VP Records) (2002)
*"Ghetto Dictionary – The Art of War" (VP Records) (2002)
*"Nah No Mercy - The Warlord Scrolls" (VP Records) (2006)

ingles

US singles

References

External links

* [http://www.bountykiller.com Bounty Killer website]
* [http://www.one876entertainment.com News on Bounty Killer]
* [http://www.greensleeves.net/bio/biogboun.html Greensleeves Records' Biography of Bounty Killer]
* [http://www.reggae-reviews.com/bountyk.html Reggae Reviews' Bounty Killer page]