3hmdSb

Vybz Kartel:
Madness
by kern carter
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
How else would you describe the enigma that is dancehall
icon Vybz Kartel. Since parting ways with “The Alliance” and
his former mentor Bounty Killa, controversy has followed.
From his feud with former colleague Mavado, to being
banned from Guyana airwaves, to his continued incarceration
on a suspected murder charge, Vybz has perhaps become the
most polarizing reggae artist of his generation.
As Vybz Kartel sits in his cell awaiting the completion of
a second murder trial in as many years, one can only imagine
what thoughts are running through the DJ’s mind. Prior
to his incarceration, Vybz had been in the dancehall scene
for over a decade and seemed to be at the height of his success
and popularity. His single “Clarks” was burning up the
airwaves in Jamaica (and internationally), he released his
own shoe line “Addis,” and
he was the first dancehall
artist to host his own reality
show called Teacher’s Pet,
a “Bachelor” type program
that pit 20 females vying for
Vybz affection.
It seemed that Kartel had
risen past his feud with former
colleague Mavado, a
beef stemming from Kartel’s
departure from “The
Alliance,” which also encompassed
notable DJ Bounty
Killa. At its height, the feud
was much more than the
diss tracks both djs spit on
the most popular riddim of
the time. The Gaza vs Gully
culture that Vybz and Mavado
created respectively,
seeped into Jamaican culture
causing youths of the island
to take sides and wage
their own personal wars that
actually cost some young
people their lives.
To both artists credit, they
twice tried to publicly end the feud, the second of those attempts
actually saw both artists perform on stage together
at the West Kingston Jamboree in 2009. And Vybz has since
gone on to some major accomplishments, solidifying his
name as one of the premiere dancehall djs in reggae music.
But controversy has always stayed with the “Cake Soap”
singer. The aforementioned track alluded to Vybz bleaching
his skin, in effect causing him to appear lighter skinned. The
act caused an uproar throughout social media across the
globe, some questioning the safety of the practice, but the
bigger question being the moral perception. The practice of
bleaching is common amongst females in Jamaica, creating
a “vampire” culture and image which assumes that lighter
skinned people are somehow more privileged. Vybz was the
first notable male (aside from Sammy Sosa) that adopted
this practice, but he was unapologetic for his
actions, instead comparing his bleaching to white
people “getting a sun tan.”
Soon more controversy for Vybz, as his music was
banned on Guyana airwaves with the National Communications
Network claiming Kartel had nothing
positive to offer entertainment.
But these missteps seem petty in comparison to
Kartel’s next crime, a double murder accusation on
September of 2011, a charge in which the “Straight
Jeans and Fitted” singer is still fighting. A lot can be
said of these accusations, but it would be unfair to
speak in detail about an ongoing case, which at this
point are only accusations.
What can be said is that Vybz has again impacted
the culture of his country and beyond with a tool
other than his music. To show you the reach Vybz’
case has covered, I was inside of a club this past July
when they announced he was not guilty of the initial
murder charge. The crowd erupted in a frenzy
as they played only Kartel songs for the next 10
minutes, which says a lot about the catalogue of
the dancehall don.
It’s easy to forget in all of this chaos that Vybz Kartel
is a serious performer that has been able to capture
not only the airwaves, but speak to an entire
generation of people through his music. He has had
numerous hit records—“High,” “No Games,” “Summertime,”—just
to name a few. His music can be aggressive
and speak to the youths going through the
everyday hardships, or it can be playful and sexual
and speak more to women in the dancehall life. He
is versatile, charismatic, energetic, and a consummate
showman. A rare mix in reggae music today,
it must be said that Vybz is one modern day legend,
someone that will be remembered for his music as
much as for the turmoil that has surrounded him.
And now here we are. Vybz awaiting his fate, patiently
or impatiently, no doubt wondering how the
next decade of his life will be played out. One can
only hope the madness has come to an end.
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE
76
77