Rodney Basil Price, born on June 12, 1972, in Trenchtown, Jamaica, was shot by a stray bullet at 14 while walking home from school. During his recovery, he adopted the name Bounty Hunter. Known as a prominent dancehall and reggae DJ, he became one of the most combative artists of the 90s. Price, one of nine siblings, grew up in Riverton City. His aggressive style and gun-themed lyrics gained significant attention. Despite seeming contradictions in his personality, his fans connect with his music.
His late father, Constance Basil Price, owned the Black Scorpio sound system. Bounty Hunter once sold figurines and performed for local sound systems like Metromedia. He persistently visited King Jammy’s studio, hoping for a break, and eventually recorded with Jammy’s brother, Uncle T, in 1990.
One of his early hits, “Dub Fi Dub,” marked the transition to his new name, Bounty Killer. In 1992, he released major singles like “Copper Shot” and “Guns Out.” His debut album, “Jamaica’s Most Wanted,” came out in 1993, featuring many hits. That year, he began a lyrical feud with Beenie Man, resulting in the clash album “Guns Out” in 1994. They ended their rivalry in 2014 with the single “Legendary.”
In 1996, Bounty Killer released “My Xperience,” a double album featuring American hip-hop stars like The Fugees and Busta Rhymes. His songs, such as “Hip-Hopera,” charted in the U.S. The album “Next Millennium” featured New York rappers like Mobb Deep, and “Deadly Zone” was included in the Blade movie soundtrack.
Bounty Killer was twice arrested at Reggae Sumfest and charged in 2008 for profanity during his performance. He founded The Bounty Killer Foundation in 2018, donating to Kingston Public Hospital, where he was treated in 1986. In 2020, the foundation provided financial help to reggae artist Junior Byles, who suffers from mental illness and cancer.
