Bounty Killer credits Buju Banton and Ninjaman for influencing his early career in dancehall.
Rodney Basil Price, Bounty Killer’s government name, also goes by the monikers, the Grung Gad, The Warlord, and probably the title he wears closest to his heart, The Poor People Governor. There is a reason he was awarded the special title by the people of Jamaica; he never stops going the extra mile for the meek in society. Even with all the fame Killer has attained, he still finds a way to pay homage to the other greats who have helped to pave the way for his success.
While ‘vibing’ with Serani during a recent studio session, Bounty revealed the persons who have helped him to become the household talent he is today. He listed Buju Banton and Ninjaman as the biggest influences on his career.
Before explaining just how both men aided in his success, he gave Serani and other studio occupants a rundown of just how much of an unruly child he was. He recounted that his reign of terror was between the ages of 12 and 16. However, he really began to listen to his father’s teaching to refrain from wayward friendships after getting shot at the age of 14.
As the interview progressed, Bounty Killer can be heard fusing a section of Buju Baton’s 1992 hit “Batty Rider” with his first hit single, “Copper shot.” Bounty used the opportunity to express just how much he admired Buju, and how much of a role Gargamel played in his hit single.
He explained that this was what made it so difficult to address Buju when he dragged the microphone from a then relatively unknown Vybz Kartel[previously named Addi Banton] after Bounty introduced him at Reloaded in the year 2000. “Gargamel the yout dem of today a the man of tomorrow, take time wid them,” he said, reliving the now iconic words spoken 20 years ago.
“Buju ave a lot fi do with my success…the wol a dancehall” he proudly stated. “Buju help me indirectly, Shabba help me indirectly, Ninjaman help me directly,” Bounty said as he listed some of the best to ever do it in dancehall and reggae.
The direct help from Ninja, which Bounty was alluding to, is the hit single between himself and Desmond Ballentine, “Badman A No Cub Scout,” produced by King Jammy’s.
“Him a the only one me get the combo wid. When me need help inna the young days a Ninjaman gimme. And when Jammy’s say voice with me him never think twice. Him a the fuss big artiste wa say yuh wicked Yout!,” explained Bounty.
The Warlord belted out a profound statement to show just how much he respects Ninja Man. “Outa all a the man dem wa me look up to and idolize, Ninjaman a the man.”
Serani interjected by stating that Bounty Killer was his version of Ninjaman, as Killer is the man who motivated him to step away from the mixer and move into the booth and in front of the microphone. Killer stopped the praises being tossed upon him to issue yet another lesson involving Ninja.
“You see when me voice “New Gun” a so me know Ninjaman. Me come from foreign eno dem time de a big tape a run the place. The man come with a big tape and we wa hear Ninjaman reaction so we go out de and say Ninjaman, we have a likkle yout wa have wa bad tune and him say play it. Nuff big artiste woulda gwaan like him no wa rally roun day – no wa play no new yout.”
“Yuh see when the man hear bloodc____t “New Gun” the man nearly mash up him tape. From de so we extra rate him from we see how him gwaan over we song,” Bounty added.
The Killer saw that moment as the reason Ninja delivered such a solid verse on their collaborative effort. He said, “A the last bad song that Ninja record eno… Him put out him bloodc____t heart pon it cause him convince say a wa badboy me a sing wid. Dem time de me a likkle yout not even know how bad me is. A when me grow further and listen back to how Ninja go hard pon me song me realize say yow you did bad yout.”
Bounty then listed another top icon that Ninjaman helped up the rungs of dancehall. “Ninja help Shabba too. Ninjaman money voice,” he said before singing a line from Shabba’s hit track “Needle Eye.”
NotNice assembled a star-studded lineup for a Jamaican tribute anthem, “We Are.”
It is said that the heart of a country is truly judged and weighed by how it responds to threats and disasters. Much like other nations, the relatively small, island paradise called Jamaica is battling the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic on all fronts. The government has doubled down on its efforts to help Jamaicans to whether the storm in various ways. They have engaged their defense to the economic strains by activating the country’s disaster relief fund; new measures to control how we interact with each other in a public space have been implemented to flatten the curve of viral transmission and educating the nation has now been moved online. However, there was still work to be done on boosting morale and confidence in the country’s ability to be able to withstand the pressures of a global meltdown.
One Jamaican producer is leading the charge in this department by bringing together 15 of Jamaica’s biggest and most soothing voices for one song. Ainsley ‘Notnice’ Morris unveiled “We Are” mere hours ago, and it is already getting the praises it deserves.
We are strong, we are courageous, we are great, and we can make it through every single thing are just some of the uplifting comments uttered by the likes of Romain Virgo, Jah Cure, Tarrus Riley, Tessanne Chin, Richie Stephens, Nordia Mothersille, Julian Marley, Sanchez, Jah Vinci, Etana, Jesse Royal, Richie Spice, Maxi Priest, Wayne Marshall, and Khalia.
The moving rendition was aided along its path to upliftment through a touching compilation video. The images and shots curated by Shane Creative from Wikid Media capture average Jamaicans trying to make it through this new normal. However, there are also a few shots of Jamaica at its finest hours, whether it is our lush green fauna or our athletes setting the sporting world ablaze. Jamaica is a utopia and with creative minds, selflessness and determination, We Can make it out of this disaster with her heads held high and with a greater sense of unity.
Drake brought back some of his “One Dance” vibe with his TikTok hit “Toosie Slide.”
TikTok is emerging as one of the saviors in this new confined world that we are being forced to living in. If you have been anywhere on social media within the last couple of months, you would have noticed the numerous dance challenges that have emerged from the app, each of them with a popular backing track. Drake seems to be taking advantage of the new craze as he drops his latest release, “Toosie Slide.” The Canada rapper is no stranger to his tracks being used for dance challenges. Drake’s most recent leaked is now being pushed as a TikTok ready release. With only a few seconds of the track being leaked earlier this week, the song has already seeped into the hearts of TikTok users.
A clip that has since gone viral shows the Atlanta based dancer who goes by the name Toosie, showcased the simple dance moves while Drake raps, “right foot up, left foot slide/left up, right foot slide.”
The full track provides a lot more for the dancing community, and Drake knows how to strike the perfect balance. He always finds a way to drop a few extra bars for those folks who are not so inclined to embark on a dancing showcase. Nonetheless, “Toosie Slide” feels like a fun track, which is something different from his two most recent releases, “When to Say When” and “Chicago Freestyle.
Whether it is starring alongside DaBaby and Lil Yachty in the latter’s “Oprah’s Bank Account” video or flipping burgers with Future, Drake has been known for putting a fun spin on the visual content it gives fans, and we are sure “Toosie Slide” won’t disappoint.
UK based dancehall deejay Stylo G regularly sings about being the life of the party. His breakout tracks “Touch Down” and “Dumplin” are all about a good rave, and whatever else comes with being an entertainer, loaded with cash. The artiste is singing a different tune in his latest release, as he gives us a breakdown of what it looks like behind the fast life he portrays in videos. Stylo fittingly calls the track “Hard Food.”
He tells just how much he works behind the scenes to perfect his craft, even when others are out partying. He also recollects on his time in Jamaica as he confesses that he ate from ‘dutch’ pots a lived in a one-room apartment. In a nutshell, his life in Spanish Town was not easy, but he is grateful for the opportunity he received and pledges that it won’t be long before an opportunity comes knocking at your doorstep. The entire track is aimed at motivating his fans, who may be going through a tough time. Someone who seems to know Stylo personally jumped into the comments and recollected, “Remember when me deh pn d block a listen da song yah pn you birthday me G a eat cornmeal dumpling and stew chicken.”
The track is hitting all the right emotional strings, with many persons confessing that they were almost moved to tears to relive their struggles through Stylo’s words.
In a move to ensure that the entire message is received, Stylo employs the use of a simple lyric video, which also captures himself in the studio.
It seems Nicki Minaj and her husband Kenneth Petty caught Meek Mill lacking in a clothing store in Los Angeles yesterday.
Rising rapper Retch spotted Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj on the same day, and the weird run-ins have fans looking sideways. While the up-and-coming rapper posted photos of himself and the two rappers, it appears a lot more than that went down inside the store. TMZ posted a video clip of a confrontation between the two parties inside the store. You could hear Kenneth Petty yelling at Meek, who was surrounded by what appears to be security. It didn’t seem like they came to blows, but the situation was pretty tense. The incident went down at a upscale clothing store in West Hollywood called, Maxfield.
New Jersey rapper RetcH caught up with Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill on Friday afternoon and stopped for a quick photo op to later update his Instagram. RetcH hailed Meek Mill as one of his favorites of all time. He took to social media to share a photo of the two standing in a clothing store in the city together. In the caption, Retch wrote, “ONE OF MY FAVORITE N***AS IN THIS SH*T SINCE I WAS A KID ON GOD, REAL DOWN TO EARTH DUDE FR LOVE BIG BRA,” he said. In the picture, Retch is dressed in a black hoodie and hat with a winter jacket.
Fans noticed that Retch was wearing the same thing in a photo he had posted earlier with Nicki Minaj. It looks like he ran into the rapper in a different store that same day, which some found to be a peculiar coincidence.
“JUST RAN INTO THE QUEEN SHOPPIN FOR DRIP WE WAS BEEFIN AT FIRST WE FRIENDS NOW @NICKIMINAJ,” RetcH wrote in this caption. The photo was taken by Nicki in selfie mode. The rapper was clad in a Balenciaga top and showed off a natural pout with her designer shades.
While Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj were not spotted together in the same place, fans were enthralled by the strange occurrence and made quite the spectacle of it. Nicki and Meek have not been spotted together in years and are currently thriving in their own separate lives. In 2019, Nicki needed her now-husband Kenneth “Zoo” Petty. The rapper told fans that she wants to step away from the music for a while to start her family. Speaking of family, Meek Mill and his fashion designer and clothing brand owner girlfriend Milano Di Rouge are expecting their first child together this year.
