'Rags to riches'

File
Bounty Killer

A schizophrenic person may be described as someone with dual or multiple personalities. Well, Rodney Pryce who assumed the stage name Bounty Killer is definitely not schizophrenic but according to him, there is a difference between Bounty Killer and Rodney Pryce.

"Bounty Killer nuh know the struggles but Rodney Pryce know it," said the talented deejay. He has been on the dancehall scene professionally for 11 years but was exposed to the dancehall itself when he was about eight years old.

Pryce was groomed on the streets of Seaview Gardens, a well known inner-city community. Before emerging as the star Bounty Killer, Pryce used to sell figurines, wall plaques and other ceramics with his older brother.

The last son for his mother 'Miss Ivy' who was a dressmaker by trade said he learnt a lot from his past.

"My struggles taught me that I should make good of what I have because life wasn't always like this and mi caan go back weh mi a come from so I have got to keep investments alive," Pryce explained.

In describing his previous trade of selling figurines, he told The Sunday Gleaner; "It was just like normal higglering, you approach people and ask if they are interested or not interested."

He also recalled the problems he encountered while selling figurines. "Me used to have to run from MPM (Metropolitan Parks and Market officials) down a King Street," he said.

Pryce said while 'selling' he made various amounts weekly but survived on the income generated. "We never have a specific range we jus did a survive, if yuh sell $10,000 yuh rich and yuh family alright fi di holiday time," he said emphatically.

He said having lived that life he has always sought to address the matter of poverty in his songs.

"Me live dem life deh and that's why me talk about it. If poverty was a thing of the past mi wouldn't sing about it but it's not, for it is very much prevalent in our country," pointed out 'The Poor People's Governor'.

Bounty Killer's first recorded song was Dub Fi Dub. It never got him much recognition but it wasn't long before the deejay reloaded and 'fired' his first hit, Copper Shot, on the King Jammy's label. Before long Bounty Killer was a household name.

Songs such as Cellular Phone, Look, Anytime, Book Book Book are among his many hits. He says his decision to become an entertainer was due to the hardships he endured. The final straw, he said, came after he got hit by a bullet when he was 15 years old.

"Suffer me a suffer and get shot, then mi decide to go on the road and try to make something happen cause yuh caan stay a yuh yard and mek it so me start go up a di studio go hang out," he said.

Bounty said when he got shot there were two options before him; to retaliate or to use the incident as a motivating factor. He said he thought about it and decided that nothing positive would arise from retaliation.

Apart from using music as a way out of his hardships, the deejay said being exposed to it brought him joy.

"Reggae music was very important, it was the only little enjoyment mi had at that age. Me was too young to see the real importance of it but nevertheless me loved the energy and the vibes that it brought," explained Bounty Killer.

The versatile deejay encourages anyone trying to make something of their lives to be self-reliant. "It's nice to get help but always prepare fi do things for yourself, have self-esteem, encourage yourself, and always be yourself," he said. "You must believe in your hopes and dreams and work hard to achieve them because if you do not put in anything you not going to get nothing."

The past student of Edith Dalton-James High School and Duhaney Park Primary said he never dreamt he would be in the position he currently enjoys. "No sah, mi neva dream of this. If mi did know me wouldn't get involved inna wrongdoing and end up get all shot," explained the outspoken deejay.

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