Dancehall veteran Bounty Killer was among over 30 musicians inducted into the Jamaica Music Museum Hall of Fame during the Reggae Gold Awards ceremony on Thursday in Kingston.
Bounty Killer, whose real name is Rodney Price, rose to fame in the early 1990s and became one of the leading figures in the dancehall scene, known for his distinctive voice, aggressive delivery, and socially conscious lyrics.
His career took off in the early 1990s with hits like “Coppershot” and “Spy Fi Die,” which showcased his raw talent and lyrical prowess. The deejay’s style often incorporates elements of street life, politics, and social commentary, earning him a reputation as one of the most authentic voices in Jamaican music.
Bounty Killer grateful for awards
During the awards ceremony, he received two awards, one of which was the Wray & Nephew Cultural Impact Award.
Grateful to receive such recognition, he said, “It’s very auspicious to know that the iconic Wray & Nephew that I have known since I was a young man because Wray & Nephew is like the python of alcoholic beverage in Jamaica, they are the spirit of Jamaica. So, for them to recognize me as the iconic figure that I am, is something very interesting and I appreciate it and I am elated about it,” he said.
He said he was also honored to be inducted into the Jamaica Music Museum Hall of Fame on the night.
“The induction into Jamaica Reggae Music Hall of Fame, that’s another iconic achievement because to be recognized amongst all those greats, the great Bob Marley, the great Leroy Sibbles, the great Ken Boothe, Yellow Man, Josey Wales, all those people that I grew up listening to, to be recognized among them, that is like the legacy, you can’t get any better than that,” he said.
Kudos to ‘Babsy’
Bounty Killer also hailed the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange for recognizing Jamaican music the way she has done.
“This never happened, 10, twenty, years ago, so it’s good to keep the legacy and the history of reggae going. They have started the Reggae Music Hall of Fame which is a great induction again because we never had that years ago. Kudos to Babsy and the entire ministry supporting reggae and dancehall,” he said.
Among the other 32 awardees of the night were Third World, Beenie Man, Gerald ‘Bogle’ Levy for dance, Wycliffe ‘Steely’ Johnson, and Cleveland ‘Clevie’ Browne.
