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Biography
Use Jamaican English|date=March 2012Use dmy dates|date=March 2012Infobox musical artist|name = Vybz Kartel|image = Vybz Kartel pic.jpg|caption =|background = solo_singer |birth_name = Adidja Palmer|alias = |birth_date = birth date and age|df=yes|1976|1|7|birth_place = Kingston, Jamaica |origin = Portmore|Portmore, Jamaica |genre = Reggae , Dancehall , Reggae fusion |occupation = Deejay (Jamaican)|Deejay , songwriter , entrepreneur , lyricist , record producer|producer |years_active = 2000–present|label = Adidjaheim Records |associated_acts = Beenie Man , Aidonia , Elephant Man (musician)|Elephant Man , Ninjaman , The Alliance (dancehall)|The Alliance , *Portmore Empire|Portmore Empire , Major Lazer & Popcaan , Kano , Vanessa Bling |website = URL| http://www.vybzkartel.co.uk/ Adidja Palmer (born 7 January 1976)- http://www.rrrmusic.com/artists/vybz-kartel-biography/. RRRMusic.com. Retrieved 2011-3-2. http://www.6lyrics.com/vybz_kartel-biography.aspx. 6lyrics.com. Retrieved 2011-3-2. http://www.musictory.com/music/Vybz+Kartel/Biography. Musictory.com. Retrieved 2011-3-2. better known as Vybz Kartel , is a Jamaica n dancehall artist, songwriter and businessman. He has many nicknames, including: Addi, The Teacher, World Boss, Kartel, Vybz, Gaza General and Gaza Don.
Biography
Adidja Palmer began 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", a homage to Buju Banton . http://urbanislandz.com/2010/08/28/biography-vybz-kartel-aka-adijah-palmer/ Biography: Vybz Kartel aka Adijah Palmer. UrbanIslandz.com. 28 August 2010. Palmer was later part of the three-member group "Vybez Cartel", keeping the slightly altered name after group split up, and became a protege of Bounty Killer , for whom he claims to have written nearly 30 songs, including "Gal Clown".Max, James. http://urbanislandz.com/2010/12/17/vybz-kartel-i-wrote-about-30-odd-songs-for-bounty-killer/ Vybz Kartel: I wrote about 30-odd songsw for Bounty Killer. UrbanIslandz.com. 17 December 2010.
He established his own label Adidjahiem/Notnice Records with his business partner and producer Ainsley "Notnice" Morris.GoodHeart, Korry. http://www.risingstarstv.net/profiles/blogs/not-nice-the-man-engineering 'Not Nice', the man 'engineering' the Empire dominance in dancehall. RisingStarsTV.Net. 18 January 2010. In 2010, he released his album Pon Di Gaza 2.0 on Adidjahiem/Notnice Records in collaboration with Tads Record Inc. http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20100213/ent/ent1.html Kartel releases Pon Di Gaza 2.0. Jamaica Star . Retrieved 2011-2-16. In Spring 2011, Vybz Kartel released an album entitled 'Kingston Story' with Brooklyn hip hop/electro producer Dre Skull . http://www.dreskull.com/blog/2010/12/23/vybz-kartel-announces-new-album-produced-by-dre-skull/ Vybz Kartel Announces New Album Produced By Dre Skull. DreSkull.com. 23 December 2010. Retrieved 2011-2-16.
Kartel has worked on collaborations and remixes with hip hop and R& B musicians Jay-Z , Rihanna , Missy Elliott , Busta Rhymes , M.I.A, Pharrell, Kardinal Offishall , Akon , Jim Jones, Lil Wayne and Eminem .
In 2009 he had succeeded internationally with his hit song featuring a popular female Jamaican Deejay 'Spice' - "Ramping Shop" debuting on the Billboard Top 100 Singles charts, http://www.dancehall.mobi/2009/07/13/ramping-shop-hits-the-billboard-chart/ Ramping Shop Hits The Billboard Chart. Dancehall.Mobi. Retrieved 2011-2-16. and "Dollar Sign" being in regular rotation on urban radio stations in the US. http://www.wrfg.org/features/shows/shows-desc.asp? showid=20 WRFG Radio Free Georgia. Retrieved 2011-4-15. His 2010 single "Clarks" was one of his biggest international successes, remaining in the top 3 Reggae Singles gaining the most radio plays in North America for 40 weeks. http://www.jamaicans.com/news/announcements/ClarksDeMixtapeRawHitsStores.shtml Clarks: De Mixtape Raw Hits Stores. Jamaicans.com. 5 January 2011. "Clarks" was also featured on the TV series So You Think You Can Dance Canada , http://www.harringtonkommunication.com/? p=978 So You Think You Can Dance - Canada (Vybz Kartel - 'Clarks'). Harrington Kommunication. 3 September 2010. and on a CNN segment on dancehall dance. http://www.thesweet7.com/2011/01/cnn-reports-jamaican-dancehall-goes.html CNN Reports Jamaican Dancehall Goes Global. The Sweet 7. 21 January 2011. MTV's Vice Guide to Dancehall featured Kartel at his weekly dance party, Street Vybz Thursday.Henry, Krista. http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20101119/ent/ent3.html Dancehall episode for MTV series. Jamaica Star . Retrieved 2011-2-16.
After splitting with Bounty Killer-led Alliance in 2006, Kartel founded the Portmore Empire, a group of dancehall deejays and singers from his Portmore neighborhood that he signed to his newly founded Adidjahiem/Notnice Records. Members of the group as of 2011 were: Popcaan , Shawn Storm, Sheba, Gaza Indu, Tommy Lee, Singing Maxwell, Singa Blinga, Lenny Mattic. Former members include Lisa Hype, http://www.yardflex.com/archives/005301.html "Lisa Hype is no longer part of the Portmore Empire..." Vybz Kartel announces split with Lisa Hype. YardFlex.com. 30 December 2009. Gaza Kim, http://www.risingstarstv.net/profiles/blogs/gaza-kim-exits-portmore-empire Gaza Kim Exits Portmore Empire + England Town Medley. RisingStarsTV.net. 17 January 2010. Black Ryno, http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/RHYNO_7446540 Black Rhyno leaves Portmore Empire. Jamaica Observer . 25 February 2010. Jah Vinci, Dosa Medicine and Merital Family http://www.mydancehallmadness.com/2011/06/merital-family-leave-portmore-empire.html Merital Family Leaves Portmore Empire. Dancehall Madness . 7 June 2011 ..
Feud with Mavado
Towards the end of 2006, Vybz Kartel left The Alliance. Tensions arose following Kartel's continued association with Bounty Killer's longtime enemy, Beenie Man , including Kartel attending Beenie Man's wedding to Bounty Killer's ex-girlfriend D'Angel.Henry, Krista. http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/20081129/ent/ent3.html Kartel reveals life story. Jamaica Star . 29 November 2008. Retrieved 2011-2-16. Due to Kartel's defection from The Alliance and his 'parring' (fraternising) with Beenie Man, a series of songs and counteraction songs ensued - the main proponents being Kartel and Mavado.
A very public feud between Vybz Kartel and former collaborator Mavado (singer)|Mavado arose towards the end of 2006, stemming from Vybz' much publicized departure from the dancehall conglomerate group The Alliance. The feud resulted in numerous diss tracks released, in which each artist dissed the other and their associates over popular dancehall rhythms.Dreisinger, Baz. http://www.villagevoice.com/content/printVersion/1686421/ Reggae's Civil War Why Mavado and Vybz Kartel might be the Biggie and Tupac of Dancehall. Village Voice . 2 March 2010. In a police-overseen press conference in March 2007, both Mavado and Vybz Kartel publicly announced an end to hostilities and apologized to fans.Kaylia Williams: http://www.yardflex.com/archives/001154.html Unprecedented Press Conference ends feud between Vybz Kartel and Mavado. YardFlex.com Archives, 2 March 2007. Accessed 27 January 2011
However, by the summer of 2008, tensions flared with a renewal of "diss tracks" from each artist, and a lyrical clash between the two at Sting 2008 left mixed views as to the "winner". http://www.yardflex.com/archives/003051.html Mavado and Vybz Kartel at it again. YardFlex.com. 22 August 2008. Retrieved 2011-4-15.Black, Francine. http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20081229/ent/ent1.html Entertainment insiders say ... STING CLASH WAS A DRAW. Jamaica Star . 29 December 2008. Retrieved 2011-4-15. Most of 2009 saw a continuation of the public feud, which dominated Jamaican media and, to a certain extent, Jamaican culture, with the two artists' factions, Gaza (Kartel) and Gully (Mavado), being adopted by Jamaican youth, in some cases leading to street violence.Boyne, Ian. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090920/focus/focus1.html The Gully-Gaza war. Jamaica Gleaner . 20 September 2009. Retrieved 2011-4-15. http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20090804/news/news1.html BEATEN FOR 'GULLY' MUSIC - Driver assaulted, householder threatened after playing Mavado songs. Jamaica Star . 4 August 2009. Retrieved 2011-4-15.
On 8 December 2009, Kartel and Mavado met with Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding in an attempt to end the feud, which had by that time fueled mob attacks in some of the inner-city neighborhoods of Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston . http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091208/lead/lead6.html Prime Minister to meet with Kartel, Mavado. Jamaica Gleaner . 8 December 2009. Retrieved 2011-4-15. The two had performed together on-stage the previous night in a sign of goodwill at the West Kingston Jamboree, a concert promoted by drug lord http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14742342 Christopher "Dudus" Coke . After the truce in December 2009, the two artists were scheduled to perform a unity concert March 2010 in Barbados , which was later cancelled by the prime minister of that country. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Mavado-Kartel-show-off-in-Barbados_7506329 Barbados PM says no to Mavado, Vybz Kartel show. Jamaica Observer . 26 March 2010. Retrieved 2011-4-15.
Business
In 2008, Vybz Kartel launched his own liquor line Street Vybz Rum. He hosts a weekly dance party Street Vybz Thursday, at the Building, Kingston nightclub he manages with Street Vybz Rum business partner Corey Todd.Henry, Krista. http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20100204/ent/ent1.html Kartel Takes Over Club. Jamaica Star . 4 February 2010. Retrieved 2011-3-4. The rum is officially distributed by Vybz Distillers Limited. The same year, he also released his own condom line, Daggering Condoms. http://www.yardflex.com/archives/003110.html Introducing ‘Daggering Condoms’ by Vybz Kartel. YardFlex. 2 September 2008. Kartel's goal for 2011 is to release his own shoe line named Addi's, as well as his own line of "cake soap".Henry, Krista. http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20110107/ent/ent1.html Kartel to start own shoe brand. Jamaica Star . Retrieved 2011-2-28.
When his singles "Clarks", "Clarks 2 (Clarks Again)" and "Clarks 3 (Wear Weh Yuh Have)" featured the British shoe brand C& J Clark|Clarks in 2010, its sales numbers and prices in Jamaica increased considerably.cite web|author=Name * |url= http://repeatingislands.com/2010/07/09/sales-of-clarks-shoes-skyrocket-in-jamaica-thanks-to-vybz-kartel/ |title=Sales of Clarks shoes skyrocket in Jamaica thanks to Vybz Kartel « Repeating Islands |publisher=Repeatingislands.com |date=9 July 2010 |accessdate=2011-03-08
Vybz Kartel has also hosted his own reality television show "Teacha's Pet" on CVM Jamaica broadcast channel, the first reality television show hosted by a dancehall artist in Jamaica. The premise of "Teacha's Pet" finds 20 women living in a Kingston house vying for the artist's affection; the show's lascivious content elicited condemnation of its sponsor, telecommunications company LIME. The show came to a halt with the artist's arrest on murder charges in September 2011.
Controversies
Whitening
Kartel has come under controversy over perceived skin whitening , or "bleaching", leading him to claim to the use of "cake soap" to lighten his skin.Hunter, Nadisha. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20101229/lead/lead1.html Rub it out. Jamaica Gleaner . 29 December 2010. Retrieved 2011-2-28.Farah. http://www.tribune242.com/hurricane/02022011_inyaear-vybz-kartel_features_pg11 Vybz Kartel under fire for skin bleaching. The Tribune (Bahamas) . 2 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-2-28. The Blue Power Group, Jamaican manufacturer of the popular cake soap (or "blue soap"), has refuted claims it changes skin color.Roache, Alicia. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Cake-soap-company-lightens-Kartel-s-claim_8283170 Cake soap company lightens Kartel's claim. Jamaica Observer . 12 January 2011. Retrieved 2011-2-28. Kartel then stated the soap used to lighten his skin was his own brand, which he intends to release on the local market.
Airwave Ban
In September 2011 the National Communications Network of Guyana banned Vybz Kartel from the airwaves—the first such action against a specific artist. His music contained "obscene lyrics" and brought "nothing positive" to the entertainment industry, said NCN spokesman Martin Goolsarran (Wednesday, Sept 21st) after a week of internal debate. He said NCN was reviewing the lyrics of other musicians and could ban them as well. In fact the government had no problem with Kartel, its Tourism Ministry inviting him to an August music festival, but he angered it and Guyanese promoters when he failed to show up. http://www.fox28.com/story/15516131/guyana-bans-music-of-no-show-jamaican-singer
Murder charge
On 29 September 2011, Kartel was arrested by police. Jamaica's Major Investigation Taskforce (MIT) charged him with murder , conspiracy to murder and illegal possession of a firearm . The deceased was Barrington 'Bossie' Burton, a 27-year-old businessman and music promoter based in the Kingston suburb of Portmore. They first visited Kingston's Norbrook community where the DJ resides, then went to a property on Swallowfield Avenue in Kingston's Havendale area. That residence was the scene of a fire several weeks ago; a scorched computer hard-drive and several boxes were removed. They then drove to Portmore to a home purportedly owned by Kartel's mother, where a number of items were similarly confiscated. Kartel was detained for the weekend in relation to a partially burned, decomposing body found inside the Swallowfield Avenue home.cite web |url= http://www.billboard.com/#/news/vybz-kartel-jamaican-dancehall-star-charged-1005383832.story |title=Vybz Kartel, Jamaican Dancehall Star, Charged with Murder |author=Meschino, Patricia |date=Oct 4, 2011 |work=Billboard |publisher= |accessdate=23 March 2012
Kartel was granted bail for the Burton murder 23 March 2012 for JD$3,000,000, but currently remains jailed in connection on a second murder, of one Clive 'Lizzard' Williams.cite web |url= http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php? id=36105 |title=Vybz Kartel granted bail, but remains jailed |author= |date=March 23, 2012 |work=Jamaica Gleaner |publisher= |accessdate=24 March 2012
Discography
Albums
2003: Up 2 Di Time
2004: More Up 2 Di Time
2005: J.M.T.
2009: Most Wanted
2010: Pon di Gaza 2.0
2011: Kingston Story
Singles
Title
Year
Peak chart positions
Album
US R& B
"Ramping Shop"
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.
Guest appearances
Year
Title
Album
Artist
2005
" You Don't Love Me (No, No, No) "
Music of the Sun
Rihanna
Awards
Kartel has had several collaborations with international hip hop and pop stars. He has released two albums for the UK/US based label Greensleeves Records . He was also nominated for the The Source (magazine)|Source ,cite web|url= http://www.ttgapers.com/index.php? module=News& func=display& sid=946 |title=Vybz Kartel pleased to be nominated for a Source award |publisher=ttgapers.com |date= |accessdate=2011-03-08 Vibe (magazine)|VIBE and UK Music of Black Origin Awards|MOBO awards, although his 2004 UK MOBO award nomination was withdrawn amidst controversy over homophobic content of his lyrics. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3636696.stm Mobo drops 'homophobic' artists BBC News, 8 September 2004
reflist|colwidth=30em Persondata | NAME = Palmer, Adidja Azim | ALTERNATIVE NAMES =Kartel, Vybz | SHORT DESCRIPTION =Jamaican musician | DATE OF BIRTH =1976-01-07 | PLACE OF BIRTH =kingston jamaica | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Kartel, Vybz Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:People from Kingston, Jamaica Category:Dancehall musicians Category:Reggae fusion artists Category:Jamaican reggae musicians
