Bounty Killer rocks Barclays Center with a sold-out US comeback
Written by tropixx105 on July 10, 2025
(CNW) – On Saturday, July 5, 2025, the very walls of Brooklyn’s Barclays Center trembled—not just from the booming basslines of dancehall, but from the pounding hearts and thunderous love from the sold-out crowd who came to welcome back a living legend.
After more than 15 years away from U.S. stages, ‘Warlord’ Bounty Killer—one of dancehall’s fiercest voices and most revered sons—returned as a hero. As New York’s Irie Jam radio host DJ Roy introduced him, Brooklyn bowed in respect.
“Reggae Fest Presents: The Return of Bounty Killer,” produced by CJ Milan, was more than a concert. It was a historic moment in time for a culture that had long missed its general. The night’s emotional high came from Bounty Killer and the musical family he helped build and whom he had invited to join him on stage.
Masicka delivered a short but clinical performance that gave a glimpse of the future of dancehall. Aidonia lit the stage with his signature fire. When ‘Gully Gad Mavado’—his one-time protégé—took the stage to perform “So Special,” his voice cracked with emotion. Stopping mid-song, he turned to salute the man who believed in him before the world ever did. The crowd erupted—not just in applause, but in acknowledgment of legacy.
As the lights dimmed at 11.08 pm and the riddims dropped, women screamed their hearts out. Men pounded their chests, others high-fived each other, some lifted flags, while others lit up the arena with cellphones. All were proud to be a part of this historic moment. For a few precious hours, time rewound, and the spirit of Jamaica roared through New York.
From the opening bars of “Poor People Fed Up” to the haunting chant of “The Lord is my Light and Salvation,” Bounty Killer and his backing band Nin9 X Nin9 took us on a musical odyssey, delivering a scintillating performance that was more sermon than setlist. Every lyric from his extensive song catalogue hit like a bomb—raw, real, and relevant. Songs like “Eagle and Di Hawk,” “Look Into My Eyes,” “Coppershot,” and “Kill Fi Fun” hit like a bullet from a Glock, reminding the crowd why Bounty remains not just an icon, but the one and only Grung Gaadzilla.
