Bounty says Jamaica needs to smile more

Yasmine Peru
Monday, December 08, 2008

This is no joke. Bounty Killer, the deejay known for being "cross, angry, miserable", says Jamaica needs to smile more. And, in fact, Rodney 'Bounty Killer' Pryce is leading the way. These days, the Killer has, in fact, been smiling more. a lot more.
A smiling Bounty Killer with friend Lena British at Asylum earlier this year.
Actually, it was a laughing Bounty who we saw on Saturday night at the stage show Reggaelution where the ace deejay was out with friends and obviously having fun.
"The dancehall is now totally about four things: gangsta, guns, daggering, and dancing. It is not about having real fun anymore," he declared. "That's why I'm attending shows like these. to listen to the music and enjoy myself," he explained.
He questioned why at a time such as this, with the historic win by Barack Obama in his bid for the US Presidency, certain uplifting songs aren't being played more. "Dem even stop playing the Barack Obama songs by Coco Tea and Mavado. Why aren't uplifting songs like these getting more airplay?" he asked.
In a light-hearted mood and smiling willingly for the cameras, he asked, "Haven't you been listening to my recent songs?"
This in reference to one of his newest singles, Responsibility, which questions why children don't play dandy shandy anymore and asks parents if they still send their children to Sunday School.
Known for an aresenal of gun tunes, and a slew of clash lyrics with which he has ably defended himself on numerous occasions, there is also the flip side of Bounty Killer which, through the years, has seen him seriously evoking social consciousness in his role of Poor People's Defender. Songs such as Anytime, Look Into My Eyes and Book Book Book are among those which show Bounty's crusading spirit.
Bounty, the leader of dancehall's formidable Alliance - comprising Mavado, Wayne Marshall, Aidonia, Bling Dawg and Nitchie Kutchie, among others - and whose lyrical duelling with arch rival Beenie Man, is well-documented, says he has "left out of the competition thing right now" because it contributes too much to making people "cross and miserable".
Source: Jamaica Observer