Calls grow for Bounty Killer-Mr Vegas clash

Dancehall entertainers Bounty Killer and Mr Vegas have been carrying a feud for two decades that has had the two veterans trading insults on social media for several years.

It dates back to Sting 2000 when Mr Vegas hit hard at the self-proclaimed 'Warlord' of dancehall, whose response was that he was going to 'write-off' the deejay's career.

The feud has re-escalated as the artistes have thrown lyrical punches in tracks released over the past two weeks, which has fans and several other dancehall heavyweights entering the ring.

Several social media users have called on Mr Lexx to add his take. Speaking to THE WEEKEND STAR, he said that he had no interest in becoming part of the lyrical war at the moment but urged Mr Vegas and Bounty Killer to keep it healthy.

"I'm always for a healthy clash, and as long as nobody don't cross the lines. But it is one part of the music that has been lacking for a very long time. Personally, I used to look forward to Sting and I hear people saying they could take it to the stage, but I'm not sure if it's the right two artistes to do so," he said.

Mr Lexx continued, "When I say healthy, I mean one [clash] that is exciting, that people look forward to seeing. It's lyrical and the artistes do it, to benefit the music, that you can put on a show and it's sold out and generates money and people leave feeling satisfied and unharmed."

He said that the veterans have long crossed the lines between disses shared on social media and with the recent tracks. The lyrical war was initiated by Bounty Killer's Watch Yuh Mouth which was released on January 27, which Mr Vegas answered with two tracks titled All Out and Run Up. Bounty Killer has since released another single, Bup BupBup (Drag Queen).

"I've listened to both of the artistes' tracks. Them both saying things about each other but personally, me think Vegas a lead. Is two grown men, and veterans in this business [so] it's up to them if they want to continue this or even take it to Sting. If it's purely for entertainment, I'm with it. Anything else, it's just not necessary, considering the current state of dancehall," Mr Lexx said.

Sting promoter Junior 'Heavy D' Fraser said that in addition to hearing the veterans' songs, he has heard the calls for them to be added to the 2023 line-up for the stage show but "It's too early in the lyrical war for us to say that will happen".

"While the feud a gwaan fi a long time, it can work once the artistes make it work. Many acts who have feud in real life have come on stage and maintain the professionalism of a clash. But we watching it for now. Personally, I can't make a decision from them flinging two songs, so I'm not saying yes or no to a Bounty-Vegas clash," Heavy D explained.