In the depths of his eyes, a vulnerability stares back at me as Vybz Kartel recounts the lasting psychological effects of prison. His voice trembles, a stark contrast to his usual confident demeanor, as he discusses how jail has changed him. "My sleeping habits have changed... if I hear a key shake, it traumatize me," he says, revealing the wardens' jingling keys before head counts still send shockwaves through his system.
We sit in the courtyard of the Four Seasons hotel in Tower Bridge, London, with Kartel open about the struggles he faced during his 8-year imprisonment. The UK government emergency alert test rings on my phone, causing him to jump up and exclaim, "Me ready fi run yuh know!" We both burst into laughter, but it's a jarring moment, considering our conversation about the trauma of prison life.
Kartel, 49, was once one of Jamaica's biggest dancehall stars. Emerging in 2003 with his album Up 2 Di Time, he brought provocation and badness to the genre, influenced by grittier DJs like Ninjaman. A string of hits propelled him into international success, with songs like Romping Shop, Clarks, and Summer Time crossing over to British and American charts.
However, life after prison has not been without challenges. He reveals that his physical health was in shambles upon release, thanks in part to his time behind bars, where he struggled with Graves' disease. Conditions at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre were deplorable, which had exacerbated his condition. When he emerged into freedom, he found himself reliant on a diet of whole foods and green juices to recover.
Despite facing setbacks, including having his music banned from certain Caribbean countries due to its explicit content, Kartel remains optimistic about dancehall's future. He is pushing for unity and love, rather than the violence that was present in his early lyrics. "The system created that reality for us as ghetto youth," he says, acknowledging that violence came with politics.
Kartel also admits to regrets over some of his past actions, such as bleaching his skin due to a colonial mindset. However, these mistakes have led him down a path of self-reflection and personal growth. As a result, he now prays every day and is working towards a cleaner path by removing old tattoos.
The complexities of Kartel's story serve as a reminder that even those with troubled pasts can find redemption and grow into the person they're meant to be. Today, Vybz Kartel seems more determined than ever to stay out of trouble, focusing on expanding dancehall's reach through collaborations with Afrobeats artists. He now sees his music as universal household classics – "like Bob Marley's One Love," but with a faster-paced and underground vibe.
In the end, it's clear that Kartel has found a new lease on life after prison, one where freedom and redemption take precedence over past mistakes.
We sit in the courtyard of the Four Seasons hotel in Tower Bridge, London, with Kartel open about the struggles he faced during his 8-year imprisonment. The UK government emergency alert test rings on my phone, causing him to jump up and exclaim, "Me ready fi run yuh know!" We both burst into laughter, but it's a jarring moment, considering our conversation about the trauma of prison life.
Kartel, 49, was once one of Jamaica's biggest dancehall stars. Emerging in 2003 with his album Up 2 Di Time, he brought provocation and badness to the genre, influenced by grittier DJs like Ninjaman. A string of hits propelled him into international success, with songs like Romping Shop, Clarks, and Summer Time crossing over to British and American charts.
However, life after prison has not been without challenges. He reveals that his physical health was in shambles upon release, thanks in part to his time behind bars, where he struggled with Graves' disease. Conditions at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre were deplorable, which had exacerbated his condition. When he emerged into freedom, he found himself reliant on a diet of whole foods and green juices to recover.
Despite facing setbacks, including having his music banned from certain Caribbean countries due to its explicit content, Kartel remains optimistic about dancehall's future. He is pushing for unity and love, rather than the violence that was present in his early lyrics. "The system created that reality for us as ghetto youth," he says, acknowledging that violence came with politics.
Kartel also admits to regrets over some of his past actions, such as bleaching his skin due to a colonial mindset. However, these mistakes have led him down a path of self-reflection and personal growth. As a result, he now prays every day and is working towards a cleaner path by removing old tattoos.
The complexities of Kartel's story serve as a reminder that even those with troubled pasts can find redemption and grow into the person they're meant to be. Today, Vybz Kartel seems more determined than ever to stay out of trouble, focusing on expanding dancehall's reach through collaborations with Afrobeats artists. He now sees his music as universal household classics – "like Bob Marley's One Love," but with a faster-paced and underground vibe.
In the end, it's clear that Kartel has found a new lease on life after prison, one where freedom and redemption take precedence over past mistakes.
. Like, you can see the vulnerability in him, but he's also super determined to turn his life around 
. I'm all about second chances, you know? We've all messed up at some point, but it's how we learn from those mistakes that matters. He's really embracing his spirituality now, and that's dope 
. And can we talk about how fire his new collaborations with Afrobeats artists are 
? The future of dancehall is looking bright!
. They're supposed to monitor his health or something? I mean, what's next? A brain-computer interface to control our minds? 
It just seems like another way for the government to keep an eye on us. And have you seen the prices of those things? Outrageous! 
also i feel bad for him with his health struggles and having to adapt to a new way of living after being in prison... like what kind of food and juice do you drink when your body's been used to junk food and harsh conditions? 
It's like, he's found a new purpose in life, which is great. But at the same time, it's hard not to feel for the guy who was once known for his rough vibes and now has to deal with PTSD and health issues. And let's be real, his journey is still ongoing... there are no happy endings here. 
. He's even talking about removing old tattoos... that takes a lot of guts. And what's more human than wanting to make mistakes right? It's not like he's expecting everyone to forgive him or anything 
. The guy's trying to grow and be better, just like the rest of us.
he's been through so much but he's still grinding 
gotta respect the man for owning up to his mistakes & doing the work 
... who knew all those years of "badness" would lead to a spiritual awakening? 
seriously though, it's heartwarming to see him've found a new path, focusing on unity and love rather than the violence that defined his early lyrics. but hey, can't say I'm surprised he's now into whole foods and green juices - all that time behind bars probably gave him a taste for the "high life" 
. It just goes to show how harsh conditions can affect people, especially when you're already struggling with health issues like Graves' disease.
. I'm not hating, but it's interesting to see how one person can come out of that kind of situation and still manage to stay optimistic 
.
. The fact that he's collaborating with Afrobeats artists is a great move, too - who knows, maybe we'll get to see some amazing fusion tracks 
, the way he talks about how jail affected him is super raw, but at the same time it's like he's finding peace now 
, I'm loving the vibe of him collabing with Afrobeats artists too 
, and omg, bleaching his skin? 
so Vybz Kartel was in prison for 8 years and now he's out and still making hits 
his story is like wow so inspiring but also super sad 
it's crazy how far he's come from those gritty old days 
And can we please stop using "growth" as a euphemism for "I'm still a bad person, but I've learned some new tricks"? 
It's not that hard to acknowledge the hurt you caused and apologize sincerely. And another thing, what's up with these hotels offering jail visits as a promotional opportunity? 
The Four Seasons? More like the Four Shame.
i mean he was one of the biggest dancehall stars back in the day but it sounds like he got lost along the way, especially with all those crazy lyrics and actions... whoa 