Bounty Killer Praises His ‘Idol’ Shabba Ranks: “Can’t Insult My Own Inspiration”

Bounty Killer has doubled down on his stance that he will not engage in a tit-for-tat with his idol Shabba Ranks, despite a barrage of prodding from his fans, who feel the Grammy Kid had “dissed” him in a recent radio interview.

On Thursday, Bounty once again took to Instagram, where he shared a video clip of Saddle to the East 1995, which featured himself, Shabba, Beenie Man, and other artists, as an indication that he wanted no conflict with the two-time Grammy Award winner.   

In the caption, he poured out his heart, pointing out that he could not disrespect Shabba as not only the Dancehall veteran’s mother, Mama Christie, had treated him like a son but that the Ting-a-Ling artist was his inspiration to become a deejay and forever has his respect irrespective of any harsh words spoken.

“My idol cannot be my rival. Mi nuh diss elders unless they comes at me directly.  So big up Shabba Ranks despite whatever he might’ve said, but his action speaks way louder than his words bcuz what he had done for me and many other youths by impacting and inspiring us musically is immense,” Bounty noted.

“I know that the fans are a bit disappointed to an extent with certain things being said, but look at the positive side.  The first Visa I ever gotten 1993 was on Shabba tours petition.  He might not even remember that, so he can say anything and get a pass folks.   I respect and rate Shabba all my life so there’s ntn him or anybody can say or do to change that now.  Plus Ms Christy is like a mother to me.  We all had our opinions but a one C-View as @dextadaps said.”

Added Bounty: “So ego and petty feelings can’t mash it up.   Shabba had to be proud of me bcuz I’m a product of his inspiration as big as I can ever get, Shabba will always be a part of my journey.  Can’t insult ur own my inspiration.  There’s no bad blood here at least for me so big #mamachristie and @mamaivy.  I had ntn more to say about this situation.  Stay positive folks🙏🏾🙏🏾.”

Bounty has always praised Shabba Ranks. In a 2021 interview with Teach Dem, he revealed how, in his early days in Dancehall, he emulated the Dem Bow artist’s vocals and even copied his hairstyle.

He had also revealed how, as a youngster, he and his friends had stared at Shabba in awe when he visited Seaview Gardens fresh off tour and vowed to one day be like him.   During that interview, Bounty had also said that Shabba was the only artist remaining in the world with whom he wished to do a duet.

Bounty’s comments on Thursday afternoon found favour with his manager Paul “Bankey” Giscombe, several of his Dancehall compatriots and fans, who praised him for handling the situation with grace.

“Rodney Price, I am so proud of you to write something so positive as this just now.  This is coming from your heart, no sugar-coat thing.  Love and Unity, strength, nothing negative,” Bankey wrote, to which Bounty replied: “You know the ins and outs big bredda.  You been there ever since.   I love Shabba Ranks the artiste.   I don’t even know Rexton the man as the character Shabba Ranks that inspired me, so can’t and won’t ever diss him despite whatever happens today.  Oneness we say🙏🏾🙏🏾”.

 “💯✅️…. UnoGeneral Bounty Killa!!!!!! 1 Emperor Shabba Ranks…!!!!!… Idols…🙏🏿,” Dexta Daps noted, to which Bounty replied: “@dextadaps.  You know Shabba a fi wi gad and not even him can change dat despite what words might said🥳🥳.”

One fan, burrisdelroy, also rained praises on Bounty for being magnanimous under the circumstances.

“You’ve displayed unprecedented levels of professionalism and maturity…  I’ve carved out a new found respect and admiration for you and this is now beyond music. You have put on display a characteristic that ought to be emulated by the wider society. We have fast become a society that is unforgiving and swift to condemn. However, you took us in a different direction and it is deserving of national recognition. Ever grateful,” he noted.

“Give many thanks I’m far from perfect but I’m trying to perfect this life we live🙏🏾🙏🏾,” Bounty replied.

Earlier this week, an audio clip surfaced of an interview featuring Shabba alongside a Jamaican radio personality. In it, the Seaview Gardens native is heard refusing to be addressed as a “general” before declaring that General Trees, General Degree, and General Echo were only three generals in Dancehall and that “any other general a plan fi funeral,” a barb appearing to aim at Bounty, who refers to himself as One General.

Shabba’s “funeral” comment appeared to be in response to an angry statement made by Bounty more than a year ago, that: “no little old lame run away back in di days guy cyaah size up one General.  Nuh NPT (no p-ssy test) else a funeral,” following Shabba’ comments about veterans, supposedly Bounty, ‘fighting’ against younger artists.