Vybz Kartel Pays Homage To Bounty Killer
Popular dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel has paid homage to his mentor and friend, Bounty Killer, in a moving Instagram post. Kartel, whose real name is Adija Palmer, praised Bounty for his work as an artiste and an ambassador of Dancehall.
In the lengthy post today Kartel said: “I wonder if people really appreciate how great this man really is. Is just a pity Dancehall doesnt have a well organised and streamlined industry that would have all the to truly celebrate the greatness of Dancehall “Gads” ( pun intended ).”
He added that, “Bounty killa never start Dancehall but his impact on the Genre is ubiquitous and universal. 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.”
He describes Bounty, whose real name is Rodney Basil Price, as a father figure to him, who not only helped introduce him to the Dancehall genre but inspired him to keep producing hits and doing what he loves. “Both artiste producer promoter ,plus the joy weh him bring to di fans and the raw truth weh him talk ! 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,” he said.
Bounty and Kartel go back all the way to 1999, when Kartel’s manager brought Bounty, a mixtape for him to hear. Two songs stood out for him, “Gyal Clown” and “Black Power” but the artiste was still not ready for the stage.
Bounty detailed how he helped Kartel to emerge as a hit making Dancehall artiste last year in a similarly lengthy Instagram post.
“Vocally Kartel wasn’t ready but everything else was on point, so I took him to Jazzwad/Snow Cone/Dave Kelly/Jeremy Harding/Don just to name a few. Computer Paul was the first top producer who recorded Kartel with Black Power, but bcuz his vocal immaturity at the time u just wasn’t getting serious and rebellion vibes out of the song. That’s when both Butler and Paul decided that it’d work better if I record Black Power; that’s how it became my song,” he said in the post.
Bounty Killer evidently is still a big supporter of the artiste’s achievements and commented under Kartel’s post today.
He said: “Wow what a monument of acknowledgement the highest and richest compliment Black Power IF A WARLORD DID RULE DI WORLD u know rest son but it was one of the greatest thing I did when I shared the platform with u though it’s my biggest introduction to the business to date and I was even so amazed a few days ago when I heard @bujuofficial said u are indeed the MAN respect to him to acknowledged that and just looking back at 1999 about 21yrs ago that time only me u and Butler could see this day coming life is the greatest master just like most of the greats is after we are long gone they gonna realized the difference we had made Even We Gone We Live Forever Love You Son 🙏🏾❤️🙏🏾
Gaza fans also praised Vybz Kartel for the open and honest post. One fan said: “This is a great example of how a king respecting his roots, the dancehall King to the Godfather of dancehall,” another fan added: “I love the acknowledgement and respect you Expressed.”
Another fan called on the pair to think about a collaboration: “Do sumu together nuh man father an son song.” If the two were to get together on a hit there’s no doubt that Dancehall fans stand to benefit from a classic Dancehall hit.