Vybz Kartel freed

On Wednesday night, news spread that Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel had been freed from prison after spending 13 years behind bars.

The Jamaican music powerhouse, real name Adidja Palmer, was convicted in 2014 for the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams. However, his conviction was overturned by the Privy Council in London earlier this year.

The prosecution's case hinged on the disappearance of Williams after two guns belonging to Kartel were entrusted to him. While Williams' body was never found, the prosecution claimed he was murdered at Kartel's behest.

According to reports, Clive Williams and another man, Lamar Chow, were given two unlicensed firearms belonging to Kartel for safekeeping. When they failed to return them at an agreed time, they were summoned to Kartel's house in August 2011.

Chow testified that the last thing he saw was Clive Williams, who was never seen alive again, lying motionless on the ground. The house burned down days later, and his body has never been found.

Rollingstone reported Jamaican police claimed in testimony that they saw a text on Kartel’s phone saying Williams’ body was turned to “mincemeat.” Williams’ body was never found.

The 48-year-old has consistently maintained his innocence, but the court convicted him, sentencing him to serve a minimum of 35 years before being eligible for parole.

His legal team never gave up their push to overturn the conviction, arguing that the evidence was flawed and tainted. They pointed to discrepancies in the handling of evidence among other issues. The case was brought before the Privy Council in the UK, Jamaica’s highest court of appeal, which initially upheld the conviction.

Vybez Kartel's new forensic evidence later led to the reopening of the case. The new evidence presented a compelling argument that the digital evidence used against him had been compromised.

On Wednesday, the Jamaican Court of Appeal ruled in his favour, citing the compromised integrity of the evidence as the primary reason for overturning the conviction.

In a statement, Kartel expressed his profound relief, thanking his legal team, family, and fans for their unwavering support.

Musical Influence

Kartel began his musical journey as a teenager, adopting the stage name Adi Banton, an homage to Buju Banton. His early career was marked by his affiliation with the group Vybz Kartel, which eventually led to his solo ascent. Mentored by Bounty Killer, he rapidly rose to prominence in the early 2000s.

Kartel's business acumen was as sharp as his lyrical prowess. He founded his label, Adidjahiem/Notnice Records, and collaborated with other artists to form the Portmore Empire. His entrepreneurial spirit extended to other ventures, including the Vybz Rum brand.

Despite his numerous catalogue of music before he was imprisoned, Kartel never stopped releasing music even while in prison.

Vybz Kartel’s influence on the music industry never waned. In 2016, he released his most commercially successful album to date, King of the Dancehall, which peaked at number two on the US Billboard Reggae Charts. The album’s standout track, "Fever," became a global sensation, dominating charts and streaming platforms.

His creative output continued even from behind bars. He collaborated with producer Dre Skull on the hit single "Real Bad Gal" in 2017. Additionally, his musical legacy was carried forward by his sons, PG 13 or Kartel Sons. The duo made their mark with tracks like "Fully Gaza," a collaboration with their father, and "Dolla Sign."

In 2020, he demonstrated his enduring relevance with the release of To Tanesha, a 10-track album dedicated to his ex-partner and mother of his children. Later that year, he made a high-profile appearance on Busta Rhymes' album Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God, further solidifying his status as a global music icon.

Feuds and Relation to Kenyan Youth

A public feud between Kartel and former Mavado arose at some point, which saw young people and fans of both factions take sides between ‘Gaza’ affiliated to Kartel and ‘Gully’ affiliated to Mavado.

While his music undeniably captured the hearts of many Kenyan youths, his lyrics were raw, often violent, and misogynistic, resonating with most ghetto youth.

In 2015, for example, most businesses in Kayole would close before darkness set in simply because bleary-eyed youngsters dressed in silver and gold rings, neck chains, oversized hoods, and tattooed bodies patrolled the area terrorizing anyone on site. They called themselves ‘Gaza.’ It was alleged that the local boys would chant rituals and pray to Vybz Kartel.