On May 17, 2020, it was revealed that Kartel's 15-year-old son was expecting a child with an 18-year-old woman, making Vybz a grandfather for the first time.
Kartel also has six more children from other relationships. This child, along with two other children, he had with longtime girlfriend Tanesha 'Shorty' Johnson. Vybz Kartel's first child was born on April 18, 2003, when he was 27 years old.
His hit song "Fever" was certified Gold in June 2020. Despite being imprisoned, Kartel continues to release new music prolifically, releasing over 50 new songs in 2016 alone. He will be eligible for parole once he has served a minimum of 35 years in prison. In 2014, Kartel was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his associate Clive "Lizard" Williams. Having collaborated with a number of hip hop and R&B artists such as Major Lazer, Rihanna, Jay Z, Digga D, and Unknown T, he has also been credited as an inspiration for the dancehall-infused work of a number of Western artists, including Drake, who has cited Kartel as being one of his "biggest inspirations". Kartel's singles include "Romping Shop" (2009), "Dancehall Hero" (2010), and "Summer Time" (2011). As summarized by Rolling Stone, he "attained folk-hero status in Jamaica with provocative lyrics, and a mischievous public persona", and "few have captivated audience – or offended the sensibilities of its detractors –Īs consistently and thoroughly as Kartel." Among his various nicknames, he is referred to as " Worl' Boss". That's interesting stuff, with Kartel meeting R&B halfway for a change, but the closing "Ghetto Youth" is admirable and not much more, paling in comparison to Vybz's like-themed and Jamaican-born single "Life We Living." In the end, what seemed like the Vybz record to gush over winds up a welcome soundtrack to chill with, and with Kartel's discography missing such a piece, it's a welcome release with some towering highlights to boot.Adidja Azim Palmer (born 7 January 1976), better known as Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall recording artist, composer, record producer, entrepreneur, and convicted murderer. "Wine Pon Me" gives the strippers something Jamaican and slow for change, while "Fresh" is ready for its Chris Brown remix as much as "Good Pussy" could welcome Sean Kingston if he decides to go shameless.
In fact, "My Crew" is lightweight stuff lyrically, with Vybz toasting champagne and rattling off porno video titles at a Southern, syrup-sipping, hip-hop pace, but it's also a highlight as Skull bangs the timpani and drops quirky bits of Vybz in full ecstasy.
Recorded with Mixpak Records owner and tasty house music producer Dre Skull, enjoyment of the album relies on adjusting expectations as Skull's beats aren't the usual clever and Kartel's performance is at half-speed, a pace that causes him to crack less jokes and reflect more, even if heavy issues like jail time and arrests are not what Vybz cares to address right here. As titles go, Kingston Story is merely a case of key track graduating to title track because this slow-rolling and electro-flavored album qualifies as Vybz Kartel's least "Jamaican" release to date, including his collaboration with Major Lazer.