By Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Bounty Killer
WESTERN BUREAU:
BOUNTY KILLER finished the show in more ways than one at Pier 1 in Montego Bay on Saturday night.
Not seen in the western capital since last year's 'Dancehall Night' at Reggae Sumfest, he left the venue with a horde of fans in tow chanting 'Bounty, Bounty'. They escorted him to his car, crowding around and making way for the silver steed to carry their hero off into the early morning light.
Bounty Killer 'done' Caribbean Stylee not only as the final performer, with a touch from Predator at the very end, but also by taking the show to its peak at specific points in his near hour-long performance.
One of these came early, as Bounty Killer addressed Beenie Man's Red Red Red, the audience drowning out the music from the speakers as he identified someone who he said had done what Beenie said 'no gyal couldn't do'.
Others came when he teamed up with singer Angel Doolas for a trio of ladies' songs, including Fitness and an excellent anti-rape song.
Yet another 'Bounty moment' came when he said, "Me a no warlord tonight. Call me 'Ghetto Gladiator'. Add another title to the five-star general," he commanded, as he went into the combative tune of the same name, part of which went:
Bway come a funeral an tink sey a war
A drive inna him casket an tink sey a car
The final 'doning', however, came for Predator and not Bounty Killer. Predator did Mad, with the Killer supporting him, 'tearing up' the dwindling crowd at Pier 1. No Have No Head got three rails out of the crowd and, as Bounty was about to move on, the crowd chanted for Predator to return. No Have No Head was just as effective the second time around and, when Predator left, Bounty Killer called it a morning.
Bounty Killer, along with a lyrics-overladen Vibes Cartel in totality, a joke or two from Professor Nuts, a fiery DYCR and Okonko in the early going were the high points on the Prime Time Family production, which fell well short of giving the below par crowd value for the $600 entrance fee.
Cartel, who performed before Professor Nuts and the Killer, delivered great lines and spoke in exquisite rhymes even when just rapping with the audience. Opening up on the Love P.....y Bad rhythm, Cartel tore the house down defining what Bad Man Do. Whether it was New Millennium, Singer Blinger filling in for Wayne Marshall, 'weed' lyrics, for the ladies or the thugs, Cartel was like his all-white attire - sparkling and spotless.
The show had got on the way to a extremely late start - it was past midnight before the first artiste hit the stage. In fact, when Singer J appeared on stage at 3:00 a.m. he complained that he should have performed closer to midnight, as he was still a young act. However, Singer J single-handedly created the show's nadir, although it seemed to go unnoticed - or unremarked - by the audience.
Singer J tossed in a couple Jah Cure songs at the end of his set, touching another cover in Too Experienced. After asking for the 'Buzz' rhythm, he got good response for his material to end.
By the time General Degree got on stage, after a lyrical Assassin, whose greatest impact came when he entered deejaying "to make money, you know that's the plan" but who made a very intelligent presentation, the crowd was not in a dancing mood. They had managed to get a lift from Richie Stephens, especially for his 'mama tunes' Pot of Gold and Wildflower, as well as the Garnett Silk combination Fight Back, but Degree's opening medley of early tunes, including Traffic Blocking and Buddum Buddum, failed to rouse them.
"Hey, mi waan sleep to," Degree said at one point. Later, as he searched for the audience's response button, he said "gi mi a sleep scream den". It did not come, although a few young ladies roused themselves for Man Shortage.
Whether with familiar poems such as Dem Man Deh and Sucker, or a capella with other material, Pier 1 loved DYCR, his rousing cry of 'fire' being repeated in the crowd and obeyed with lighters and a roaring torch. A motorcycle rider fired up his machine and caused it to backfire to express his appreciation.
Nitty Kutchie started out alone with Street Life and That Way, then calling on Lukie D, who opened with his customary Let It Be. Lukie D also ended on a heart-tugging note, with Hard To Say Goodbye. In between, the two alternated on songs like How We Roll, Step Aside and Run Free for the LUST member and Should I and You Got It Bad for the Scare Dem Crew alumni.
