Bounty Killer On Why He Refuses The ‘King Of Dancehall’ Title, And Why Vybz Kartel Deserves It

Bounty Killer has made it clear that he has no interest in claiming the title of ‘King of Dancehall’, despite decades in the industry and a reputation as a mentor to many of the genre’s biggest stars.

Speaking in a recent interview with DJ Akademiks, Bounty dismissed the notion of crowning himself or competing for the designation.

“I’m a Godzilla man. I’m a god. I create kings and emperors and kingdoms,” Bounty said. “Them title deh small, man. Me ah the god! Yes. So I never want to be no king. I see myself as a man who create kings. So I couldn’t want to be the king when I’m making kings. So I see myself as the god, the godzilla, the grung god.”

The ‘King of Dancehall’ title has long been a point of contention between Beenie Man and Vybz Kartel, who was crowned at Reggae Sumfest last weekend. Beenie Man was also given the symbolic title at Sumfest in 2009 after declaring himself King of the Dancehall in his 2004 song of the same name.

Bounty Killer, Beenie Man

“Me done di tell Beenie years ago, so Kartel ah the new king and every king have to be outlived and no king can’t last forever. You always have another king in a generation and you have to prepare the throne to pass it on, and that’s how kingship work. The only king that I know lasts forever is the King of Kings and that’s the Almighty God. You understand?” Bounty told Akademiks.

Bounty, who was Vybz Kartel’s mentor and brought him into the spotlight as part of his Alliance, acknowledged his former protégé’s accomplishments and fully endorsed his claim to the title in this era.

“There is no earthly king that lasts forever. And anybody say Kartel is not a king in this generation — him must be kinky, okay? And it’s just plain living truth,” he said.

Vybz Kartel crowned ‘King of Dancehall’ at Reggae Sumfest 2025

Kartel, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2014 but released last year, had continued to release music and dominate charts during his incarceration — even earning a Grammy nomination — which Bounty called “extraordinary superstition.”

“No other artist in the last two decades have done what Vybz Kartel has done. Not because he’s my musical son,” he declared.

“How many singles Kartel has recorded from 2002, 2003 when you find the next millennium? 22 years now. How many singles recorded? And which artist has ever stayed behind bars and make himself relevant for 13 years same way and up in the top 10? And which artist has ever stayed behind bar and sell gold and sell silver and nominate for Grammy, record Grammy-nominated album in a prison? What dat? That’s an ordinary thing? That’s a regular thing? That’s a daily thing? No — that’s some extraordinary superstition. That nah normal.”

Bounty further marveled at Kartel’s ingenuity behind bars.

“The man record with a mattress round him head. Which artist ever do that? Pon an iPhone? That technique and that work and effort and determination — no other do that.”