Bounty Killer Rejects Dubplate Requests, Calls Out Peter Bunting For Hypocrisy On Dancehall
Bounty Killer has stormed into the raging debate being waged amongst some Jamaican music fraternity members, who are decrying Jamaican politicians for commissioning dubplates from dancehall artistes, for use in their campaigns ahead of the September 3 General Elections. Vybz Kartel, Tanya Stephens, and Queen Ifrica are also among those who have stated their displeasure with the endorsement of politicians through dubplates.
The Grunggadzilla made two posts on his Instagram page about the matter, where he registered his disgust.
In his first post, Bounty posted a screenshot of a January 2013 Jamaica Observer article titled “Dancehall pushing crime – Bunting,” which featured a photograph of the then Minister of National Security, Peter Bunting.
Bunting had claimed that, while crime was on the decrease, Dancehall music was hampering his government’s efforts. The then minister singled out one tune, Reparation by Vybz Kartel and Gaza Slim, for its role in lottery scamming as “as evidence of the social ‘dysfunctionality’ behind criminality in Jamaica,” according to the article. “It’s an amazing piece of propaganda for scammers,” Bunting said of the song.
In his commentary, Bounty Killer made it clear that dancehall is a music of resistance made by the oppressed, and the would not use his voice to endorse or further the agenda of politicians, as this would be contrary to his ethos as Poor People Governor.
“I’m not trying to bash, condemn or tell anyone what to do. I’m just telling Y’all it’s not right based on dancehall fundamentals. It was that independent platform for the masses plus the pressure and disrespect we faced from higher society over the yrs. A poppy show business folks, but to each his or her own,” Bounty declared.
The outspoken artiste said he has had to chase away some self-serving politicians who approached him, requesting that he voice campaign dubplates for them.
He also took issue with the fact that the politicians were not presenting their plans, and questioned whether they thought it was by virtue of them, having the hottest dub plate, which would guarantee them a seat in Parliament.
“How many reached out to me and for got declined bcuz i’m Poor People Governor until death. We shouldn’t be helping to foster the trust of the ppl for the leaders. Their policies and characteristics should determines that. This is how these ppl planning on winning election today by presenting a hit dub instead of a hot debate?” he said.
“Believe me they were bare faced enuff to do so (ask him to voice a dubplate) but I’m a straight forward person, I tell dem as it is: NO,” he noted in response to another follower on his second post.
One fan made a sarcastic jab at Bunting, noting: “Bunting out n stunting” a line from the Central Manchester MP’s new Stylo G dubplate, to which Bounty responded mockingly: “When poor ppl a starve and hunting.”
Throughout his exchanges with his fans, Bounty noted unreservedly that he would not tolerate politicians’ hypocrisy or tacitly support their attempts to manipulate voters, as they have not used their high office to advance the Dancehall genre, or properly see to the welfare of the nation’s dispossessed.
His fans cheered him along and slammed the members of the Jamaican Parliament for being hindrances to Dancehall, even as they upbraided the artistes who have made dubplates for them.
“A dem same politician ya implement law fi lock off dance and stage show. And now artiste a make dem dub. Di same ppl weh a stop artiste from eat food dem a throw dem support behind. Tell u bout the slavery mentality weh we have as Jamaican,” one fan said, to which Bounty replied: “Thank you. It’s now only from Thursday’s to Sunday’s entertainment can go on. These stand for ntn. Folks got fooled.”
Things almost took an ugly turn when one follower asked whether or not the Warlord was at Member of Parliament Annmarie Vaz’ campaign in East Portland, in referencing a free Birthday stage show the MP had staged last year in Port Antonio for the people of Portland, to celebrate her 53rd birthday.
“Don’t let me send u were visa doesn’t go. U know very well what kind of function I performed at for Annie Vaz in Portland. Bday party is political campaign? Don’t try style my ting idiot!” Bounty responded.
The Seaview native was joined by Vybz Kartel, who told one fan that he, too, had been condemning the actions of the politicians.
“Me been a bun out dat , mi know daddy fire did a go fwd,” Kartel wrote, evoking support from Lisa Hyper who noted: “Tell dem #movefromdeh”
Bounty’s second post was an actual repost, endorsing a statement made from a fan iammrmetta, who had tagged him, noted: “I hear a mad man say, “there is no more rights on earth” CAN I MOVE TO VENUS? Youths remember 1 thing: The system only like the people for what it can get from them, not what it give nor do for the people. Politricks have more DUB playing then DJ! Only 4 days of the week for dance.”
There was lengthy discussion on that post after a female fan implied that members of the dancehall fraternity could not be pleased and were always complaining.
“I thought the outcry was that “uptown” people nah embrace dancehall, now they are n it’s a problem,” she said, before being promptly being slapped with a terse reply from Bounty.
“They are not embracing it they are just exploiting it to their own convenience,” the artiste blared.