Vybz Kartel
| Vybz Kartel | |
|---|---|
| Born |
7 January 1976 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Origin | Portmore, Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae, dancehall, reggae fusion, hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Deejay, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels | Adidjahiem Records, Vice, Mixpak Records, Greensleeves Records |
| Associated acts | Tommy Lee Sparta, Gaza Slim, Popcaan |
| Website | http://iAmVybzKartel.com |
Adidja Azim Palmer (born 7 January 1976) better known as Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican musical artist, record producer and entrepreneur.
Vybz Kartel is one of dancehall's most successful artists and a cultural icon in Jamaica, where he is widely referred to by various nicknames including "Worl' Boss". Kartel has been recognized as one of dancehall’s most prolific and skilled lyricists and has also been credited with further popularizing the dancehall genre. Many of his singles have achieved cultural ubiquity across the Caribbean, including "Ramping Shop" (2009), "Summer Time" and "Dancehall Hero" (2013).
Vybz Kartel has collaborated with a number of prominent artists, such as Major Lazer, Rihanna and Jay Z. He has also been credited as an inspiration for the dancehall-infused work of a number of Western artists, including Drake, who has cited Kartel as being one of his one of his "biggest inspirations".
In 2014, at the age of 38, Vybz Kartel was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his associate Clive "Lizard" Williams. He will not be eligible for parole until 2049, once he has served 35 years in jail. Despite being imprisoned, Kartel continues to release new music prolifically, releasing over 50 new songs in 2016 alone.
In 2016, while in prison, Kartel released his most internationally successful album, King Of The Dancehall which peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Reggae Charts. The album included the single "Fever" which topped various local music charts and became his most successful on streaming websites.
Vybz Kartel started his career as a teenager in 1993 with his first recording "Love Fat Woman", released on Alvin Reid's label "One Heart", using the moniker "Adi Banton", an homage to Buju Banton. Palmer was later part of the three-member group "Vybz Cartel", keeping the name after the group split up, and became a protege of Bounty Killer, for whom he claims to have written nearly 30 songs, including "Gal Clown".
Vybz Kartel rose to prominence in 2003 after a string of hits in Jamaica. The year culminated in a pre-planned on-stage clash with Ninjaman at the annual dancehall festival Sting in Kartel's hometown of Portmore. The clash turned violent when Kartel's crewmembers, as well as Kartel himself, threw punches and assaulted Ninjaman onstage. While Kartel's manager initially blamed Ninjaman, Kartel himself quickly apologised to Ninjaman and Sting organizers for the fracas. Four days after the incident, the two artists appeared before the press to announce a settlement of their differences and to end any animosity.
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