Bounty Killer Asks Fans To Select Artists For His Reggae Sumfest Tribute: “Please Don’t Say Kartel Or Mavado”

Bounty Killer has called on his fans to help him select the artists, excluding Mavado and Vybz Kartel, whom they think should perform during Reggae Sumfest’s tribute to him at the event’s next staging in July 2024.

His announcement came yesterday, hours after Reggae Sumfest announced that he would be the 2024 recipient of a tribute similar to the ones given to legendary Dancehall producers Dave Kelly and King Jammys, who received their tributes in 2022 and 2023, respectively, at the event’s Catherine Hall home in Montego Bay.

“I do had an idea of who I wanted to be a part of my tribute but which of my protégé, associates, affiliates or allegiances y’all think should be a part of it?  And please don’t say Kartel or Vado bcuz situations and circumstances beyond their control but we all know that they both would’ve to be a part of it salute 🫡,” the Warlord stated on Instagram on Thursday.

Vybz Kartel is currently serving a life sentence for murder, while Mavado is yet to return to Jamaica after he left in 2018 during a flare-up of violence in Cassava Piece, St. Andrew. 

Bounty’s post, however, attracted calls for numerous other artists; central among them were former Alliance members whom he regards as part of his “pure four”: Busy Signal, Wayne Marshall, Bling Dawg, as well as the Scare Dem Crew, and Cham.

At the 2022 staging of Reggae Sumfest, Bounty, along with Beenie Man, Cham, Wayne Wonder, Spragga Benz, Frisco Kid, and Mr. Easy had comprised the sensiferous seven who headlined Reggae Sumfest’s Madhouse Tribute to Dave Kelly.

That tribute came on Night Two, Saturday, July 23, in honour of the iconic, but reclusive Dancehall music producer/songwriter, who created a slew of seminal beats in the 1990s, including Pepperseed, Joy Ride, Showtime, Stink and Dugu Dugu.

Last year, Lloyd “King Jammy” James, the man regarded as the undisputed king of computerized, digital Reggae/Dancehall music, was similarly honored during Reggae Sumfest’s Concert Night Two on Saturday, July 22 at the same venue.

Dancehall veterans Lieutenant Stichie, Big Belly Man deejay Admiral Bailey, Pinchers, Chaka Demus, Leroy Gibbons, Bunny General and Chuck Turner had headlined Sumfest’s Tribute to the sound system selector and producer, who kickstarted their careers in the 1980s.

Sumfest’s announcement yesterday, about The Tribute To Bounty Killer, came weeks after the Warlord broke his silence amidst calls for him to receive the Order of Distinction (OD), Jamaica’s sixth-highest honour, for his contribution to the development of Dancehall music, this after his Alliance protégé, Wayne Marshall was presented with the honour on National Heroes Day in October.

Many Jamaicans had complained that Dancehall veterans, like Bounty and Beenie Man, ought to have been recognized first.  

However, Bounty, in response, had shared a video clip of himself and Shaggy on stage, where he had declared in his usual bold fashion that: “Let me tell oonu. They can’t give me no OD.  I am a OG”, he had said referencing the term which is an abbreviation for “Original Gangster,” but which evolved over time to describe a highly respected or highly regarded person who is authentic and extremely talented in what they do.

“What’s a OD to a OG/One General that’s meeeee😂😅😄,” he had also captioned the post, essentially brushing aside the importance of the Order of Distinction, which is awarded to Jamaican citizens who render outstanding and important services to the country.

Earlier this year, Shaggy, had said that Bounty, whose given name is Rodney Price, ought to be vested with The Order of Distinction, for his altruism in Dancehall, in which he kickstarted the careers of many elite artists, brought them to national attention and moulded their careers.

In hailing Bounty as a “Five-star General” Shaggy had said the veteran deejay ought to be vested with the honour, the motto for which is “Distinction Through Service”. 

Bounty, in reflecting on his contributions to Dancehall music, several weeks ago, had taken aim at the island’s political leaders, unleashing some terse words upon Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding, while scoffing at them for failing to officially recognize what he said were his contributions to Jamaica’s development.

“@andrewholness @markgolding You both don’t has to recognize my contributions toward the development of this country bcuz god and the world already knows while all the hypocrisy shows🤔,” he had written.

Bounty has been, for many years, regarded as the grand patriarch of Dancehall.  His protégés from his Alliance collective were Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Wayne Marshall, Bling Dawg, Aidonia and Busy Signal, as well as selector Foota Hype and he also played a nurturing role in the careers of  Elephant Man and the Scare Dem Crew, among others.

The Seaview Gardens native has been held in high esteem for never taking any money or fees from the artistes he moulded, but instead enabling them to earn from local and overseas shows and otherwise to accumulate wealth.

Even Foota Hype, with whom the Warlord has had an acrimonious relationship, after their friendship disintegrated back in 2016, has hailed him as the most generous and supportive friend he has ever had.  The Dark Knight producer has said repeatedly created many of Dancehall’s and Jamaica’s new millionaires, who would have continued to suffer in Kingston’s ghettoes, were it not for his generosity.

Foota has said that although his relationship with the Seaview Gardens native had become strained, he still has maximum respect for Living Dangerously artiste, who had even done free shows for himself and Mavado in their communities when, according to him, they were “nobodies”.

In April 2021, Vybz Kartel had venerated Bounty on Instagram, referring to him as “Father Abraham” as he highlighted the role the Alliance founder had played in his musical ascension.

“Father Abraham (Bounty Killer) had many sons… and I am one of them and so are you” Kartel had stated.

Kartel had also shared a lengthy post in March 2020, describing Bounty as a “great man” and hailing him for what he said was his ubiquitous and universal impact on Dancehall music.

“Is just a pity Dancehall doesn’t have a well organised and streamlined industry that would have all the to truly celebrate the greatness of Dancehall “Gads”,” Kartel had noted.

“If Dancehall’s creator was “newton”, Bounty Killer is “einstein” weh upgrade it and in some instances, redifine it or change it all together. Just check di amount of youth killa help realise dem potential. Both artiste producer promoter, plus the joy weh him bring to di fans and the raw truth weh him talk!” he added.

Kartel had also expressed his unending love for Bounty Killer, despite their fiery falling out more than a decade ago.

“Me love di General like a father/as a father and a mentor a teacher and a provider who offered me the “great escape” from poverty and be able to take care of my family and make my kids live a more comfortable life than i had growing up. Bless up mi General,” he had stated.   

Back in October 2019, Bounty was also the toast of academics at the University of Technology (UTech) when he was cited as the consummate social entrepreneur, for, among other things, his work as a dubplate specialist.

The university’s researchers had said Bounty had provided “more opportunities or a more professional consideration with respect to how dubplates were treated within the music industry of Jamaica”.