Vybz Kartel, the Jamaican dancehall star, sits in the Four Seasons hotel in London, discussing his experiences behind bars and how they have affected him. The 49-year-old, who was released from prison last year after a lengthy appeal process, now faces a new reality – one where he must navigate the world outside of Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre.
For Kartel, life after prison has been a struggle. He describes his sleeping habits as having changed and reveals that the sound of keys jingling in his cell used to traumatize him. However, since his release, he has undergone significant personal growth. Kartel credits this newfound sense of self-awareness to therapy, which he initially refused due to his conviction that he understood his experiences.
Despite acknowledging the challenges he faced during his incarceration, including an autoimmune condition and a dirty prison environment, Kartel emphasizes his gratitude for the experience. He says he has become more cautious with his words and behavior, particularly when it comes to sensitive topics like homophobia. In this regard, he expresses regret for using derogatory language in the past but believes that culture is powerful.
Kartel's newfound perspective also extends to his views on politics. Unlike many Jamaicans who identify with either the ruling Jamaica Labour Party or the opposition People's National Party, Kartel keeps a low profile and supports neither. His most recent actions demonstrate this stance as he condemned critics for questioning him about sharing the Jamaican government's emergency response effort in response to Hurricane Melissa.
Currently focused on furthering dancehall's global reach, Kartel envisions collaborating with artists from other genres like Afrobeats and striking a balance between artistic integrity and commercial appeal. In his view, dancehall can be the biggest underground music globally once its tracks become widely recognized as household classics – much like Bob Marley's "One Love."
For Kartel, freedom has brought new life and an opportunity to pursue a cleaner path. As he approaches removing old tattoos of a devil's head and the 666 symbol, he feels rejuvenated. Praying daily to God, he acknowledges that his experiences have made him stronger and states that nothing can ruin his day or energy.
In light of his recent release from prison, Kartel continues to navigate a world different from the one he left behind.
For Kartel, life after prison has been a struggle. He describes his sleeping habits as having changed and reveals that the sound of keys jingling in his cell used to traumatize him. However, since his release, he has undergone significant personal growth. Kartel credits this newfound sense of self-awareness to therapy, which he initially refused due to his conviction that he understood his experiences.
Despite acknowledging the challenges he faced during his incarceration, including an autoimmune condition and a dirty prison environment, Kartel emphasizes his gratitude for the experience. He says he has become more cautious with his words and behavior, particularly when it comes to sensitive topics like homophobia. In this regard, he expresses regret for using derogatory language in the past but believes that culture is powerful.
Kartel's newfound perspective also extends to his views on politics. Unlike many Jamaicans who identify with either the ruling Jamaica Labour Party or the opposition People's National Party, Kartel keeps a low profile and supports neither. His most recent actions demonstrate this stance as he condemned critics for questioning him about sharing the Jamaican government's emergency response effort in response to Hurricane Melissa.
Currently focused on furthering dancehall's global reach, Kartel envisions collaborating with artists from other genres like Afrobeats and striking a balance between artistic integrity and commercial appeal. In his view, dancehall can be the biggest underground music globally once its tracks become widely recognized as household classics – much like Bob Marley's "One Love."
For Kartel, freedom has brought new life and an opportunity to pursue a cleaner path. As he approaches removing old tattoos of a devil's head and the 666 symbol, he feels rejuvenated. Praying daily to God, he acknowledges that his experiences have made him stronger and states that nothing can ruin his day or energy.
In light of his recent release from prison, Kartel continues to navigate a world different from the one he left behind.
so yeah i feel bad for vybz kartel he's been through some stuff but at the same time its crazy how therapy can change you, i mean i get it, he didn't wanna do it at first but now he's all about self-awareness and growth, thats awesome in a way. and its also interesting to see him take a step back from politics, like who wants that stress? anyway, one thing thats for sure is that dancehall needs more diversity, collabing with afrobeats artists could bring something new and exciting to the table 
his music and message are still strong and i love how he's using therapy to better himself that's real talk 
what's crazy is how far he's come from being super open about his homophobic views now he's all about spreading love and acceptance 
its dope to see him embracing his newfound perspective and focusing on bigger things like bringing dancehall to a global audience 
lets get ready for some fire music from Vybz soon! 
its like a whole new person has emerged from the shadows. i always knew he was more than just a dancehall star but to see him now is inspiring 
. its crazy how life can change you and i think thats what hes trying to say. his journey through therapy is something that needs more attention imo, its not easy for someone to admit they need help and take steps towards healing 
. It shows that he's willing to learn and grow from his experiences 
. And I'm loving the new direction he's taking with dancehall music - collaborating with other genres and pushing for global recognition 
just read about Vybz Kartel's journey outta prison and I gotta say, it's inspiring to see him transform into a more self-aware person 
. I mean, talk about taking responsibility for your actions and growing as a person 
. And can you believe he's already thinking about collaborating with artists from other genres? 
. Don't get me wrong, it's great that he's doing therapy and all, but let's not pretend like his release from prison is all sunshine and rainbows. I think he's just trying to save face, you know? The dude was known for using homophobic slurs and now he's all "oh no, I'm so sorry" 
. Meanwhile, the real issue is that he's still making music with the same old vibes 
. And what's up with this whole "I support neither party" thing? That just sounds like he's trying to stay under the radar 
. I'll believe it when I see it, Kartel 
.
. I'm sure many fans would love to learn more about how it's helped him heal and grow. Nevertheless, I'm excited to see what the future holds for this talented artist! 
. And I get that culture can be powerful, but using derogatory language just to fit in? Not cool, fam 
.
. And what's with the politics? He thinks he can just stay neutral and avoid getting dragged into all the drama 
. Good luck with that, dude.
. You can't just erase your past and expect everyone to forgive you 
maybe we can get him collabing with some afrobeats artists soon? 
But at the same time, I'm a bit surprised he's still doing interviews like this. Don't get me wrong, it's great that he's talking about his experiences but shouldn't he be focusing on his music career instead? 
