WILL REGGAE REBOUND AFTER THE VYBZ KARTEL COURT VERDICT?

#DANCEHALL RADAR

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nside the full-packed court; the verdict came like a  hard-knocking hammer. A jury of 11 earlier in April this year found 38-year old Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, guilty of the death of an associate in March.

A case that was followed internationally and locally fervently; saw American rapper Busta Rhymes fly in on the day of the verdict; from New York to give comfort to the Kartel family. Outside the court; police had a hard time controlling the charging crowd that kept on chanting “free World Boss” on Kingston streets.

But what even came hard for his loyal fans apart from the life imprisonment sentence; is that further; the clause read, ‘he won’t be eligible for parole for 35 years.’ Clive “Lizard” Williams was killed after being asked to Kartel’s home to discuss two missing illegal hand guns. The trial lasted a good 65 days and was one of the longest court cases in the history of the Caribbean island, having started in November.

Not new to prison hustles; the dancehall star was previously arrested in 2011 on drug charges but later dropped. He was later found with illegal firearms.

“World Boss” illustrious of Vybz Kartel biggest success in music and business, he released chart-topping hits such as Clarks, Ramping shop and Summer Time. His success in music led him to launching lines of shoes, alcohol and condoms.

He became the first dancehall star to star in his own reality TV-show: Teacha’s Pet. But with all the success, he has not been short of controversy. He has been accused of using skin bleaching chemicals to appear lighter. Kartel was also involved in a lyrical war of words with fellow dancehall star Mavado, with the pair exchanging several diss track. Their war went physical amongst their supporters: Gaza and Gully camps; wit deaths reported. They later called truce in 2007.

Despite being held on remand since 2011; the demand from radio stations and fans for new music has been so high that Vybz Kartel continued to record songs from his cell. Using his smart-phone voice note feature, he released singles which were later compiled into a song album. Sadly; Kartel has made the statement officially that he will no longer be recording while serving time although new songs will be released which were earlier recorded.

Fellow artists, meanwhile, have largely remained supportive despite the brutal charges against him. Busta Rhymes and veteran reggae singer Junior Reid were among those who attended Kartel’s trial. Drake has been photographed wearing a "Free Worl’ Boss" T-shirt and has echoed that support in interviews.

Kartel’s estranged ex-protégé Popcaan, a featured artist on Kartel's “Clarks” before finding success on his own with 2011’s "Party Shot," was among those who expressed disappointment with the verdict. "I'm very sad. I don't wish jail for anyone, and especially not Vybz Kartel," Popcaan told Rolling Stone. "Vybz Kartel played and still plays a vital role in the music." The same sentiment was echoed by Mr. Vegas when he called in to comment to the discussion in a radio station.

Regarded as a “Don” or “area leader” at his Portmore home are, Kartel is not just a good writer and lyricists but “he knows how to delve into the mindset of his audience,” remarked Zip FM’s DJ Sparks. The loss of his work visa kept him from travelling to the U.S. and other key markets at the height of his career, but while that limited the singer's financial opportunities; it only cemented his status as an underground icon. "He kind of became the guy where, internationally, everyone knows that’s the artist to shout out if you want to sound like you know what’s really going on in the streets," Glazer says.

In Jamaica, ubiquitous graffiti proclaiming allegiance to "Gaza" — an alias of the Portmore community where Kartel grew up — attests to his almost folk hero-like sway over the island’s poor youth. "He really is the spokesperson for everybody who is marginalized,” Dawson says of Kartel’s place in Jamaican music. "[Kartel’s] power doesn’t come from gun songs or sex songs; it comes from people who identify with him because they realize he is speaking on their behalf."

He accused his protégés whom he had mentored and given rise to fame while he was head of Gaza; of betrayal. He termed Papi and Tommy Lee as having betrayed him while he was in jail- “I want the fans to know that I am physically okay. I have never been stabbed, kicked, punched or beaten and I did not try to commit suicide,” he confirmed in the letter. “Jail is undoubtedly, unquestionably the worst place to be on this planet called Earth, but as it relates to my encounters with the correctional officers at the institution, I have no complaints. Despite being denied bail recently, and being betrayed by Popcaan and Tommy Lee whilst going through the darkest hour of my existence, I am unparalleled in my determination to remain positive,” Kartel said. “I do a lot of reading and writing and usually try to exercise."

 Riding on the wave of Kartel is Alkaline- the new dancehall star who sings like and almost looks like Vybz. Many are referring the eye-ball tattooed star as the new Kartel. New artists like Chronixx too seem to ride in the opposite wave, when he sang “…even when the whole Jamaica ah bleach; mi nuh follow nobody...” he is one of the few artists termed as “hard and conscious to his roots.”

During his incarceration, Kartel published a book called “Voice of Jamaican Ghetto”- a reflection of the Jamaican society. He now joins the likes of Buju Banton, who is currently serving time in a U.S prison, Busy Signal who was freed over a year ago and Flippa Mafia; who stands accused of running an international drug ring.

On an interview, Mavado asked Jamaicans and the rest of the world “to pray for Vybz Kartel and the rest of the artistes...” maybe in your quiet time; you can say a prayer for the music.

By Embukane Vincent Libosso.