Vybz Kartel’s Return to the Big Stage

It’s been almost four months since Vybz Kartel walked out of Kingston’s General Penitentiary as a free man after serving nearly 13 years behind bars. Way back in September of 2011, the dancehall star was arrested for possession of cannabis before being hit with a murder charge. After a 64-day trial, the longest in Jamaican history, Kartel and his co-defendants—Kahira Jones, Andre St. John, and fellow dancehall artist Shawn Storm—were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. But Kartel never gave up hope.

After appealing all the way to the highest court in the UK, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council overturned the conviction in March 2024 due to misconduct—one of the jurors was accused of bribing others on the jury, which should have resulted in a mistrial. Months later the Jamaican government decided to drop the controversial case once and for all.

After so many years in captivity the artist, born Adidja Palmer, is now enjoying life with his new fiancee Sidem Öztürk, reuniting with his family—including his sons Likkle Addi, Likkle Vybz, and his first grandchild—and savoring his first ever Grammy nomination for the album Party With Me. More importantly, after suffering from a serious thyroid condition while in prison, he finally has proper medical care and has been recovering well. “God is the greatest,” Kartel states in a new interview with Boomshots, recorded during the run-up to Freedom Street, his first live performance in more than a decade.

“I was never a religious person, but going through what I’ve been through, it changed me,” Kartel said. “And it made me have a different perspective on what God has in store for my life. So yes, I became close to God—unfortunately in prison, but it is what it is.”

Kartel will close out this remarkable year by performing alongside his sons, and many of his the young artists he helped to become stars including Spice, Popcaan, Tommy Lee, Shawn Storm, and Sheba, as well as new generation artists inspired by him like Skillibeng and Chronic Law. A few surprise guests are likely to pop out at Jamaica’s National Stadium on the evening of December 31.

“This is the greatest assemblance of artists in dancehall,” Kartel said. “It’s like the Avengers, so obviously I have to be Tony Starks. Thanos, watch out!”

Arguably the most dominant and divisive dancehall artist of the new millennium, Vybz Kartel’s career so far can be divided into three distinct eras. During the first era, from 1993 to 2000, he was Adi Banton, struggling in obscurity as part of a trio known as Vibes Cartel. The second era began when he went solo in the early 2000s, changing his name to its current spelling, and writing songs for Bounty Killer and Elephant Man before releasing his first hit song, “Gun Clown.” By the end of the second era, Kartel was a seemingly unstoppable force until his arrest in 2011. The third and longest era has played out behind bars, as Kartel continued his prolific run against all odds.

Although Kartel has not touched a stage since 2011, he’s maintained his place at the top of the Jamaican dancehall scene despite being incarcerated. By secretly recording on smart phones and emailing his vocals to a close circle of trusted producers, Kartel was able to release hundreds of hit singles like his 2016 smash “Fever,” which got heavy international airplay and was certified gold. Although he released more than a dozen albums during his time in prison, Party With Me is his first release to be nominated for Best Reggae Album.

“Long overdue, Academy,” Kartel said. “But we haffi big up the Academy same way. It’s a great feeling, it’s a humbling feeling… This doesn’t come as a surprise but it’s welcomed.”

Of all the songs he recorded in captivity, Kartel says his favorite may be “Any Weather,” an inspirational 2016 tune recorded at Spanish Town Prison with a chorus that states defiantly “We’re not going under.”

“That’s a powerful song,” he said. “It’s an anthem right now. The concept behind it, the message is also true dancehall. Tell the youths them to uplift themselves from poverty and just do the right thing. It’s like me speaking my future into existence.”

Since his release Kartel has wasted no time, kicking off the fourth era of his career with new singles like “The Comet” as well as “Nobody Move,” a collaboration with the international collective Major Lazer. Kartel has also recorded a soon-to-be-released collab with Nicki Minaj, and says new songs with Cardi B and Drake are in the works. A longtime Kartel supporter, Drake—who is rumored to make an appearance at the show—appears to have earned the dancehall star’s loyalty. Asked about the battle with Kendrick Lamar, Kartel says that contrary to popular belief, he feels that Drake won. “Kendrick is a lyricist and I am also a lyricist,” Kartel said. “So I appreciate his art. But to me, Drake gets the point across on a global scale.”

When speaking of dancehall artists, Kartel gives maximum respect to Bounty Killer, the artist who first gave him a break in by making Kartel part of his crew the Alliance in the early 2000s. “He gave a bunch of us an opportunity to feed our families, to showcase our talent, and to become stars,” says Kartel, who was inspired to “pay it forward” by forming his own crew, the Portmore Empire, which brought future stars like Popcaan, Tommy Lee, and Gaza Slim to prominence. “I remember when all of them came around,” Kartel said. “Now they’re making money, taking care of their families. It’s beautiful. That’s how it should go though. Spread the love. Spreads the energy. God is the greatest.”

Although Kartel had a lyrical feud with Bounty Killer before going to prison, he says that’s all in the past. Likewise he says he’s on good terms with his old rival Mavado, his arch-rival during the epic Gaza vs Gully wars.

“The original Vybz Kartel was the war angel. Now I’m just chilling, I’m not involved in any feuding,” Kartel says. “I don’t think I’ll go back there either. Leave that to the kids.” Once he tackles his homecoming concert, Kartel plans to continue recording and performing as well as promoting his rum and rolling paper brands, and working on a book about his time in prison, the follow-up to his previous title, Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto.