Vybz Kartel

Born in Kingston and long associated with Portmore, in Jamaica, Vybz Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, established himself in the 2000s in dancehall with incisive phrasing, a prolific writing style and a reggae-inspired approach centered on digital riddims, catchy hooks and variations between festive tracks, clash songs and more melodic tunes. Active since the early 1990s, he began under the name Adi Banton before keeping the Vybz Kartel moniker after the split of a first group, and later drew closer to Bounty Killer. His rise to visibility came through the Jamaican scene, sound systems and highly followed on-stage clashes, before the creation of the Portmore Empire collective, which played a role in the emergence of several dancehall artists. His discography includes Up 2 Di Time (2003), More Up 2 Di Time (2004), J.M.T. (2005), Kingston Story with Dre Skull (2011), then King of the Dancehall (2016), To Tanesha (2020) and Of Dons & Divas (2020). Among his best-known tracks are Romping Shop, Clarks, Dancehall Hero and Summer Time. Vybz Kartel has also collaborated with artists from reggae, hip-hop and pop, from Rihanna to Major Lazer. His career is also marked by a long incarceration between 2011 and 2024, during which Vybz Kartel continued to release numerous tracks.