#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.
