After over 15 years, dancehall’s indomitable “Warlord,” Bounty Killer, returned to Brooklyn last month rocking Barclays Center to its core.
According to Jamaican-born New York entertainment publicist Anthony “ER Guru” Turner, the center was “packed to the rafters” as fans witnessed what many are calling one of the deejay’s most electrifying performances ever.
“It was a historic moment in time for a culture that had long missed its beloved hero,” Turner told Caribbean Life.
CJ Milan produced the concert, billed as “Reggae Fest Presents: The Return of Bounty Killer.”
“With the sold-out Brooklyn show, Bounty joined elite company—becoming only the third dancehall artist ever, alongside Vybz Kartel and Buju Banton, to sell out an arena here in New York,” Turner said.
From “Poor People Fed Up” to the powerful chant of “The Lord is My Light and Salvation,” Turner said Bounty, backed by the incredible Nin9 X Nin9 Band, took the crowd on a musical odyssey.
“Every lyric landed like a grenade, raw and unfiltered,” Turner said. “Songs like ‘Eagle and Di Hawk,’ ‘Look into My Eyes,‘ and ‘Coppershot‘ were delivered clinically, reminding fans why Bounty is an icon.“
Midway into his set, Turner said Bounty welcomed longtime friend, Richie Stephens, to the stage.
Turner said they performed “Maniac“ and a rousing, crowd-pleasing rendition of Tony Rebel’s “Fresh Vegetable. ”
He said Stephens also delivered a nostalgic solo performance of his classic “Trying to Get to You“ that earned rapturous applause.
“The night was filled with love, memories, and pure energy,“ Turner said.
He said performances by Masicka, Mavado, Elephant Man, and others kept the momentum high.
Turner said one of the evening’s most touching moments came when Majah Myah, Bounty’s son, joined him on stage.
“It was a symbolic passing of the torch—where dancehall’s foundation met its future,“ he said.
Other artists who graced the stage included Dexta Daps, Junior Reid, K-Queens, I-Octane, Charly Black, and Kiprich—”all delivering heartfelt tributes to the man many credited with opening doors for them,“ Turner said.
He said Joe Bogdanovich, CEO of Downsound Entertainment and producer of Reggae Sumfest, flew in from Kingston, Jamaica, for the occasion.
“Bounty killed it,“ said Bogdanovich about Saturday night’s sell-out performance.
After the show, Bounty Killer shared a personal message on Instagram: “To my fans who filled the Barclays Center and shared this iconic night with me — singing, dancing, and vibing as I poured out my soul—you all made me feel truly special.
“Massive respect to CJ Milan and the Reggae Fest Tour team for giving dancehall this global platform,“ he added. “From planning to execution, the production was world-class. My heart is full. The mission continues. See you again soon.“
After the concert, Bounty Killer’s manager, Paul “Bankey“ Giscombe, told Caribbean Life that he “stood by Bounty and believed in him, when the odds were against us.
“I told him he would make it – just leave it to the Creator,“ Giscombe added.
