Biography
Adidja Azim Palmer (born 7 January 1976), better known by his stage name Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur and former prisoner.
A true giant of the Jamaican dancehall scene and former convict, Vybz Kartel has made a name for himself with his provocative lyrics and big personality. Affectionately known as World Boss, Vybz Kartel has released a string of successful albums over the years, with his most recent, Born Fi Dis (Prelude), coming out in 2021.
Vybz Kartel’s rise to fame began in 1993 with the release of his debut single Love Fat Woman, and he has been a fixture in the reggae and dancehall world ever since. However, his tumultuous personal life has often overshadowed his musical achievements.
In 2014, Vybz Kartel was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence with 35 years before parole. Despite this, his influence on the genre remains indelible.
Jamaican musician
Vybz Kartel |
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 Vybz Kartel: History ‧ Biography ‧ Photos |
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| Wiki Events & About Data | |
| Full name: | Adidja Azim Palmer |
| Stage name: | Vybz Kartel |
| Born: | January 7, 1976 (age 48) |
| Place of birth: | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Nationality: | Jamaican |
| Height: | 1.83 meters |
| Parents: | Teresa Palmer |
| Siblings: | Maureen Palmer-Nelson |
| Wife • Husband/wife: | Stacy Elliott (married 2006–2008), Tanesha Johnson |
| Girlfriend • Partner: | Do not have |
| The children: | Little Addi, World Boss Jr, Adi’Anna Ashanti Palmer, Little Vybz |
| Job: | Musician • Businessman |
| Net worth: | $5.5 million |
Early life and education
Born on January 7, 1976 in Kingston, Jamaica, Adidja Azim Palmer, better known to the world as Vybz Kartel, was destined for greatness from an early age. Raised by Jamaican parents, with a mother named Teresa Palmer and an older sister named Maureen Palmer-Nelson, Vybz Kartel was exposed to music from a young age, thanks to his uncles, who were also musicians.
Despite being expelled from Calabar High School at the age of 16, Vybz Kartel persevered and eventually graduated from a vocational school with top marks in subjects such as arithmetic, geography, literature and English.
His passion for music grew stronger during this time, with artists such as Will Smith, Charlie Chaplin, Papa San, Ninja Man and KRS-1 serving as his main inspirations. By the age of 11, Vybz Kartel was writing his own lyrics. Today, he is known as one of the most influential and controversial dancehall artists of the 21st century.
Personal life
In April 2003, Vybz Kartel, then 27, was blessed with his first child. The product of a long-term relationship with Tanesha “Shorty” Johnson, the child was just the beginning of a veritable brood of children for the dancehall artist. Over the years, he has fathered four children with six different partners.
In May 2020, a momentous event occurred in Vybz Kartel’s extended family: his 15-year-old son was pregnant with a child with an 18-year-old woman, making him a grandfather for the first time.
Marriage also plays a role in Vybz Kartel’s personal life. He has been married twice, first to Stacy Elliott from 2006 to 2008 and currently to Tanesha Johnson. His children include Little Addi, World Boss Jr, Adi’Anna Ashanti Palmer and Little Vybz.
Career
Vybz Kartel began his illustrious career as a teenager in 1993 with the release of Love Fat Woman on Alvin Reid’s One Heart label. At the time, he was known as Adi Banton, a pseudonym inspired by the legendary Buju Banton.
After joining the Vybz Cartel, he continued to use the name even after the group disbanded and was taken under the care of Bounty Killer. He boasts an extensive catalog of nearly 30 songs written with the group, including fan favorite Gal Clown.
In 2009, Vybz Kartel made his breakthrough with the release of Ramping Shop featuring Spice, which debuted on the Billboard Top 100 Singles chart. This was followed by the successful single Dollar Sign, which received frequent airplay on urban radio stations in the United States. However, it was his 2010 hit Clarks that really cemented his place in the international reggae scene, spending 40 weeks in the top three reggae singles and receiving heavy radio airplay in North America.
In 2010, Vybz Kartel’s singles Clarks, Clarks 2 (Clarks Again) and Clarks 3 (Wear Weh Yuh Have) received widespread acclaim and high demand in Jamaica. The popularity of these songs led to them being featured on the television show So You Think You Can Dance Canada and in a CNN segment on dancehall dance.
In 2011, Vybz Kartel launched his own footwear line, called Addi’s, as well as a line of bar soaps, which are typically used for laundry rather than treating skin conditions like acne. However, his brand of bar soaps are specifically formulated to lighten or bleach the skin.
Despite being incarcerated since 2011, Vybz Kartel has continued to release new music, angering Jamaican prison officials who say he is not allowed to record. The origins of these recordings remain a mystery.
In 2016, while still in prison, Vybz Kartel released his most successful album to date, King of the Dancehall, which peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Reggae Chart. The album included the hit single Fever, which topped many local music charts and became his most successful song on streaming sites.
Net worth
With an estimated net worth of $5.5 million, Vybz Kartel is one of the most successful and prolific reggae artists to come out of Jamaica. His unique musical style has captured the hearts and ears of fans around the world, resulting in the release of numerous hit songs and albums over the years.
Vybz Kartel’s music has also appeared in films and television shows, and his talent has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In short, he is a true giant of the Jamaican music scene and a shining example of the island’s rich cultural heritage.
Social media
- Instagram Name: @Vybzkartel
- Twitter Username: @Vybz_official
Discography
- Teak’s Best Friend
- This image
- Ramping Store
- Sex and the City
- Tell you say
- Kill People Like David
- Yuh Love
- Summer
- Step Up In Life
- Sweet life
- Last Man Standing
- Go Go Wine
- Vybz Street Girl
- Dear Dad/Mom, I’m Sorry
- Lip gloss
- Compensation
- Party with me
- Devil Father
- Look at Pon Me
- Hard bubble
- I am Pree
- Fever
- Dancing Hero
- The Most Evil Trip
- Make up
