Jamaican dancehall icon Rodney “Bounty Killer” Pryce delivered a powerful anti-crime message during his electrifying performance at the Magnum Xplosion SummerStageTT concert at The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on August 10. Despite the late hour—his headlining set began around 2 am—Pryce took the opportunity to address the escalating crime and violence in Trinidad and Tobago, urging communities, citizens, and the government to unite against this growing threat.
Earlier in the day, Pryce faced unexpected challenges upon arriving in Trinidad. He was detained for nine hours by immigration authorities after his entry into the country was initially rejected, and shared in a brief video, “Whappen to dem? Haffi clear mi like a cargo! Wi di gyal dem a wait fi si!”
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He emerged from Piarco International Airport with a smile, thanking his “Trini friends and family,” for their support during his detainment.
Price wrote, “Trinidad is a hard time dem try to gi di gad. 9hrs from last night dem have mi inna airport refused my entree and all that pure things, but general a general di ting nuh normal. Thanks to the government of Jamaica @andrewholnessjm @darylvazmp, all the immigrations at Piarco Airport who stayed up whole night to accommodates me.”
He also expressed gratitude to Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Transport Minister Daryl Vaz for their intervention in securing his entry into Trinidad.
Once on stage, Pryce used his platform to speak directly to the thousands of fans gathered for the concert, addressing familiar areas like St. Paul St., Sea Lots, Belmont, and Maraval, and referencing local gangs such as “6, 7, and 11.” He warned, “Even the smartest criminals ended up in prison eventually,” adding that “most of them are actually dead.” His poignant question, “So why choose a path like that with no future?” resonated deeply with the audience.
Pryce interspersed his messages with uplifting songs, including a remake of Billy Ocean’s “Suddenly,” where he questioned how life could have no meaning to those involved in criminal activities. He made it clear that he was there not just to entertain but to deliver essential messages of peace and unity to Trinidad and Tobago during these challenging times.
The concert also featured performances from younger dancehall stars Rajah Wild, Kraff, Alkaline, and rising local dancehall stars Squid, KESI, and others also took the stage earlier in the night.
Pryce’s impactful performance comes just days after he was announced as a recipient of the Order of Distinction (OD) from the Jamaican government, an honor he will receive alongside his once-rival-turned-friend and collaborator, Moses “Beenie Man” Davis, at the National Heroes Day celebration in October.
