Bounty Killer Says Dancehall On The Verge Of A Global Explosion

On the heels of Sean Paul’s musings that the world is yearning for a revival of authentic Dancehall sounds, Bounty Killer is urging Jamaican artists to go fully Dancehall in their upcoming bodies of work, as the genre is on the cusp of a global explosion.

Bounty made his comments during an interview with Onstage host Winford Williams recently, at the official signing party held to mark his new publishing deal with Creative Titans/Concord Music Publishing, after the veteran entertainment journalist pointed out that “Dancehall’s global presence was growing”.

The very exuberant Bounty Killer took it a step further, noting that last year’s legendary VERZUZ clash between himself and Beenie Man, played a mammoth role in the rising demand for authentic Dancehall music from Jamaica, the original source.

“Yeah, after the VERZUZ it reignite di people dem and remind dem the real feel of the music and this is why I say it make the Dancehall album now, because the people remember the feel of the 90s. They want it; they dying for it,” the Mystery artist said.

“I would urge everybody go do Dancehall, because Dancehall just burst.  Like 1994, 95 when we did a try di likkle ting dem wid di Fugees, Busta Rymes dem; it just reach dem soul now.  Di food marinate now.  Dem tastin bud ready all; ‘bomboclaat’ a one a di biggest ting inna New York right now. Awrite,” Killer explained.

Bounty added: “Suh all who know bout Dancehall, now is di time to ketch piece a it, cause a dis wi a guh benefit from now.  Dancehall jus buss; Reggaeton jus buss; 20 year it teck us to really hit di core market.  Dancehall is commercial now.  Every nation know Dancehall.”

Bounty concurred with Williams that Atlanta was a burgeoning market, but added that the reach of Dancehall spanned much further.

“Down South used to slow wid di ting.  Now, everywhere, if yuh guh  Carolina, if yuh guh Atlanta, Georgia; if yuh go Jacksonville, all a those place ready now.  Everywhere Reggae is u know…,” the Seaview Gardens native said.

A few months ago, Sean Paul had said that, based on his analysis of trends in music, the hardcore, authentic Dancehall riddims, which have been absent from Jamaican music in recent times, and for which Dancehall fans have been clamoring, were ‘coming full circle’ and that “people are ready for a Dancehall sound”.

Track legend Usain Bolt, whose 1990’- sounding Clockwork riddim has been seeing relative success, had also surmised that authentic-sounding Dancehall riddims were in demand, and were high on his production agenda.

Nike Air artiste Mr. Vegas, has also contended that there has been no sound as yet to replace the original authentic Dancehall, or the authentic Reggae sound.  In fact, he argued that the sound has not been replaced and would not be replaced, as old Dancehall tunes were the tracks that international stars preferred to sample.  Vegas added that the biggest cross-over tunes out of Jamaica have been authentic Dancehall such as Sean Paul’s Temperature and Gimme Di Light and Wayne Wonder’s No Letting Go.

Kyng Midas producer NotNice, had also argued that authentic Dancehall will prevail, as the foundation is inerasable and is also what the international audience prefers.

Bounty Killer had also told the Jamaica Star that today’s Dancehall music is lacking authenticity and needs to be realigned. “A baay crazy foolishness people doing. Nobody not doing the real, authentic dancehall,” Bounty had said.

According to the tabloid, the Warlord had said originality needs to be returned to the local music scene, and says that his upcoming King of Kingston album “will be a blueprint”.

“Somebody needs some advice and this is going to be the template. Jamaica’s music is great, but for a period of time, recently, the music seems a bit confusing—musically,” he said, before adding: “So, we’re going to redirect, realign and recharge Dancehall with the King of Kingston, so prepare for thine Kingdom to come”.