Iconic dancehall luminary Bounty Killer recently shed light on his past conflict with the American Rock band No Doubt, clarifying that their dispute over their collaborative hit, “Hey Baby,” had more to do with financial matters than the misconceptions surrounding the music video’s content.
Speaking with British broadcaster Seani B during a special live edition of his “Bruk Out” series while in the United Kingdom, Bounty Killer, along with Baby Cham and members of the Caribbean community, candidly shared insights from his illustrious career, with a particular focus on the rift with No Doubt. The Warlord revealed that the root cause of their discord was a disagreement over royalty payments rather than any concerns about nudity in the music video, as previously speculated.
Bounty Killer explained that his involvement with No Doubt came about when they came to Jamaica to collaborate with the legendary production duo Sly & Robbie. They expressed their desire to work with him, leading to a negotiation regarding his fee for the collaboration. Bounty Killer made it clear that he expected U$10,000 for his contribution, but the band offered a significantly lower sum of U$2,000, which he vehemently rejected, stating, “10 can’t move to two.”
In a pivotal moment, Bounty Killer received counsel from Sly & Robbie, who underscored the importance of collaborating from a legacy perspective. Recognizing the significance of the opportunity, he ultimately decided to contribute to the song without receiving the suggested fee. However, issues arose regarding royalties, prompting him to initiate legal action against No Doubt.
The dancehall legend clarified that the lawsuit was not tied to any concerns about a nude individual in the music video. Instead, it revolved around a dispute over publishing rights. Tony Cornell, a key figure in the matter, attempted to allocate only 2.5% of the publishing rights to Bounty Killer despite him being entitled to 12.5%. This prompted him to take legal action in California. He disclosed that the attorney’s retainer fee alone amounted to U$25,000, a fact that many are unaware of. Ultimately, the legal dispute was resolved.
Despite the financial discord, Bounty Killer expressed that he harboured no regrets about collaborating with No Doubt and extended his appreciation to the group. He acknowledged that while they may have mishandled the business aspect of their partnership, they are fundamentally good people.
