Vybz Kartel, who was born in Jamaica, is a notorious dancehall reggae performer who has had several hugely popular hits. He is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of Clive “Lizzard” Williams. Putting away his turbulent background, he is a well-known songwriter and dancehall reggae singer whose interest in the genre was sparked as a child by listening to artists such as Papa San, Ninja Man, and KRS-1. Eventually, he began writing at the juvenile age of 11 and his debut single, “Love Fat Woman,” was released at the age of 17. After recording more tunes, this aspiring deejay went on to start his own group, “Vibes Cartel,” with two other buddies. Despite the group’s failure, he changed the name and accepted it as a solo artist: Vybz Kartel. The solo singles that followed included ‘Guns Like Mine,’ ‘Badman,’ ‘Most High,’ ‘War Organizer,’ ‘Romping Shop,’ and ‘Clarks Again’ The best albums of his career include ‘Up 2 Di Time,’ ‘More Up 2 Di Time,’ ‘J.M.T.,’ ‘Pon Di Gaza 2.0,’ and ‘Kingston Story.’
Youth and Early Life
Adidja Azim Palmer was born on January 7, 1976, in Kingston, Surrey, Jamaica as Vybz Kartel.
He attended Calabar High School in Kingston until he was expelled at age 16. He then completed his schooling at a tutorial technical school, where he excelled in mathematics, geography, literature, and English.
He was captivated by music from a very young age, and his two uncles who aspired to be musicians inspired him further.
At the age of 11, he began penning lyrics for popular singers such as Will Smith, Charlie Chaplin, Papa San, Ninja Man, and KRS-1, whom he regarded as his heroes.
Vybz Kartel’s Career
As a tribute to one of his inspirations, Buju Banton, he released his first single, “Love Fat Woman,” in 1993 under the moniker Adi Banton for Alvin Reid’s label “One Heart.”
He continued to record songs for local producers until 1996 when he and his buddies Mr. Lee and singer Escobar created the group Vibes Cartel.
He elected to adopt the name in an altered form, Vybz Kartel and became a solo performer after the trio disbanded.
In 1998, during a performance of “Champions in Action” in his hometown of Portmore, he was discovered by the popular dancehall singer of “The Alliance,” Bounty Killer.
As Killer’s protégé, he began writing lyrics for Killer, Elephant Man, and other Scare Dem Crew members. He also worked with Killer on the well-known tracks ‘Gal Clown’ and ‘Girls Like Mine (Liquid Riddim)’
In 2002, he began releasing solo singles, including ‘Most High,’ ‘Guns Like Mine,’ ‘Badman,’ ‘Bus Mi Gun Like Nuttn,’ and ‘War Organizer.’
‘Why (Krazy Riddim),’ ‘New Millennium (Mad Antz Riddim),’ and ‘Why Again (Good To Go Riddim)’ are some of the successful tunes he produced in collaboration with reggae artist Wayne Marshall.
By 2003, he was producing hit after hit and was ranked second on the reggae charts for most singles sold, behind fellow Alliance member Elephant Man.
In 2003, he launched his debut album, titled “Up 2 Di Time,” and later made international headlines with a planned on-stage confrontation with Ninjaman during the annual Sting dancehall festival.
Before his dispute with Killer, he recorded two more albums, ‘More Up 2 Di Time’ (2004) and ‘J.M.T.’ (2005). The quarrel developed after he attended the wedding of Killer’s strong competitor Beenie Man with his ex-girlfriend.
After breaking out with Killer in 2006, he joined Beanie Man and instantly created a series of diss tracks aimed at Killer’s new protege, Mavado.
In 2006, he established the Portmore Empire, comprised of young artists from his hometown Portmore who recorded under his own label, Adidjaheim Records/Notnice Productions.
In the years that followed, youthful dancehall enthusiasts were divided into two factions: Gaza (those who supported Kartel) and Gully (those siding against Mavado). His 2009 track ‘Live We Living’ was a plea for peace between the two adversaries.
In 2008, as an entrepreneur, he introduced two product lines: Street Vybz Rum and Daggering Condoms.
In 2009, both singers were invited by Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding to a peace summit to end their rivalry. A performance involving both artists was planned for Barbados, but the country’s Cultural Minister canceled it.
The international success of his 2010 single ‘Clarks’ prompted him to record two further follow-up singles – ‘Clarks 2 (Clarks Again)’ and ‘Clarks 3 (Wear Weh Yuh Have),’ all of which were as successful.
In 2010, he released the album Pon Di Gaza 2.0, which featured the hit singles “Ramping Shop” and “Life Sweet.”
The following year, ‘Kingston Story’ was released by Brooklyn producer Dre Skull, whose singles were chart-toppers.
In 2011, a disagreement between the partners halted the manufacture of Street Vybz Rum, which resumed in 2012 when the parties had settled their differences.
As a first for a Jamaican dancehall artist, he developed his own reality television show titled “Teacha’s Pet,” which aired on the CVM Jamaica broadcast channel until his arrest in 2011.
In September 2011, he was arrested for possession of marijuana and was later incarcerated for the murder of Jamaican businessman and music promoter Barrington Burton.
He was granted release in March 2013 but remained in jail pending trial for the August 2011 murder of Clive ‘Lizzard’ Williams.
While incarcerated in 2012, he co-authored the book The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto: Incarcerated but Not Silenced with business associate Michael Dawson.
In April 2014, after the longest trial in the history of Jamaica, which lasted 65 days, he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 35 years.
Awards & Achievements
In 2002, he earned the ‘Deejay of the Year’ title at Stone Love Sound System’s 30th-anniversary party.
He won an award at the Caribbean Urban Music Awards in 2008. (CUMA).
In 2009, he was honored with three EME awards: Male DJ of the Year, Lyricist/Songwriter of the Year, and Song of the Year (Romping Shop ft. Spice).
Personal History and Legacy
In 2006, he wed Stacy-Ann Alicia Elliott, a New York bank supervisor, at a private wedding in Cross Roads, Kingston. Allegations that Stacy gave birth to a son who was fathered by another man resulted in the couple’s 2008 divorce after two years of marriage.
He is presently married to Tanesha ‘Shorty’ Johnson, with whom he shares three sons.
Estimated Net Worth
Vybz Kartel is a Jamaican dancehall and reggae musician with a $1 million net worth. Vybz Kartel, who was born Adidja Azim Palmer in Kingston, Jamaica on January 7, 1976, is also a songwriter, businessman, and convicted killer. His entertainment career began as a youngster with the release of his debut album, Love Fat Woman, under the alias Adi Banton.