Adidja Azim Palmer, known as Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay nicknamed "Worl' Boss" and "Teacha." He is known for his provocative lyrics and mischievous persona, captivating audiences while also offending detractors. Rolling Stone describes him as having achieved folk-hero status in Jamaica.
January 1976: Birth of Adidja Azim Palmer (Vybz Kartel)
Adidja Azim Palmer, who would later be known as Vybz Kartel, was born in January 1976.
1993: Career Beginnings
Vybz Kartel's music career began in 1993 with the release of his first recording, "Love Fat Woman", under the name "Adi Banton".
April 2003: Birth of First Child
Vybz Kartel's first child was born in April 2003, when he was 27 years old. He had two more children with the child's mother, his long-term girlfriend Tanesha 'Shorty' Johnson.
2003: Clash with Ninjaman at Sting
In 2003, Vybz Kartel was involved in a pre-planned clash with Ninjaman at the annual Sting dancehall festival, which turned violent. Though Kartel and his crew assaulted Ninjaman, the two later reconciled.
2004: UK MOBO Award Nomination Withdrawn
Vybz Kartel's 2004 UK MOBO award nomination was withdrawn due to controversy surrounding homophobic content in his lyrics.
2006: Feud with Mavado Begins
A public feud between Vybz Kartel and Mavado began towards the end of 2006, fueled by diss tracks and escalating tensions.
2006: Formation of Portmore Empire
In 2006, Vybz Kartel formed the Portmore Empire, a group of dancehall artists from his neighborhood, after splitting from the Bounty Killer-led Alliance.
March 2007: Public Truce with Mavado
In March 2007, Vybz Kartel and Mavado publicly announced an end to their feud, apologizing to fans.
2008: Endorsement Deal and Business Partnership with Corey Todd
Vybz Kartel signed an endorsement deal with American businessman Corey Todd in 2008 for Vybz Rum, which later expanded into a business partnership, launching Daggerin Condom and Street Vybz Rum.
2008: Renewal of Feud with Mavado
The feud between Vybz Kartel and Mavado re-ignited in the summer of 2008, with the release of more diss tracks and a lyrical clash at Sting 2008.
December 2009: Meeting with Jamaican Prime Minister
Vybz Kartel and Mavado met with Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding in December 2009 in an attempt to end their feud.
2009: Release of "Dolla Sign"
Kartel released the single "Dolla Sign" on the Goodlife riddim, a track that his son Little Addi later interpolated in his own music.
2009: Release of "Romping Shop"
Vybz Kartel released "Romping Shop", a single featuring Spice, in 2009.
2009: "Romping Shop" and "Dollar Sign" Success
Vybz Kartel's "Romping Shop", featuring Spice, debuted on the Billboard Top 100 Singles chart in 2009, while "Dollar Sign" gained popularity on US urban radio stations.
March 2010: Cancellation of Unity Concert
A unity concert in Barbados featuring Vybz Kartel and Mavado, planned for March 2010, was cancelled by the Barbadian Prime Minister.
2010: Release of "Dancehall Hero"
Vybz Kartel released the single "Dancehall Hero" in 2010.
2010: International Success of "Clarks"
Vybz Kartel's 2010 single "Clarks" became an international success, topping reggae charts and gaining significant radio play in North America.
September 2011: Arrest and Charges
In September 2011, Vybz Kartel was arrested for cannabis possession and later charged by Jamaica's Major Investigation Taskforce (MIT) with the murder of Barrington Burton, conspiracy, and illegal firearm possession.
September 2011: Ban from Guyanese Airwaves
In September 2011, Vybz Kartel was banned from the airwaves in Guyana due to the "obscene lyrics" in his music.
September 2011: End of "Teacha's Pet" Reality Show
Vybz Kartel's reality television show "Teacha's Pet" ended abruptly in September 2011 following his arrest on murder charges.
2011: Release of "Summer Time"
Vybz Kartel released the single "Summer Time" in 2011.
2011: Prolific Music Releases from Prison
Since his imprisonment in 2011, Vybz Kartel continued to release new music prolifically despite denials from prison officials of recording privileges.
2011: Street Vybz Rum Production Halted
Production of Street Vybz Rum was stopped in 2011 due to a disagreement between Kartel and Todd.
2011: Launch of Addi's Shoe Line and Cake Soap
Vybz Kartel launched his own shoe line, Addi's, and a line of "cake soap" intended for skin lightening in 2011.
March 2012: Bail Granted and New Charges
Despite being granted bail in March 2012 for the Burton murder, Kartel remained in prison due to charges related to a second murder, that of Clive 'Lizard' Williams. He was also charged with perverting the course of justice alongside Vanessa "Gaza Slim" Saddler.
2012: Book Publication: "The Voice Of The Jamaican Ghetto: Incarcerated but not Silenced"
In 2012, while imprisoned, Vybz Kartel's book, "The Voice Of The Jamaican Ghetto: Incarcerated but not Silenced," co-written with Michael Dawson, was published.
2012: Resumption of Collaboration with Corey Todd
Vybz Kartel and Corey Todd resumed their collaboration in 2012, settling their differences despite Kartel's incarceration.
January 2013: Trial Postponement
Kartel's trial, originally scheduled for January 2013, was postponed due to a lack of jurors and rescheduled for July 11th.
November 2013: Trial for the Murder of Clive Williams
The trial for the murder of Clive Williams began in November 2013, marking the beginning of a long legal process for Vybz Kartel.
March 2014: Guilty Verdict and Sentencing
In March 2014, after a 65-day trial, Vybz Kartel was found guilty of the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams by an eleven-member jury.
April 2014: Life Imprisonment Sentence
On April 3rd, 2014, Vybz Kartel was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 35 years.
2014: Life Imprisonment Sentence
Vybz Kartel was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in 2014.
2014: Debut of "PG 13"
Two of Kartel's sons, Jaheim (Little Vybz) and Akheel Raheim Palmer (Little Addi), began releasing music as the duo "PG 13" in 2014, continuing their father's musical legacy.
2014: Failure to Consider Time Spent in Jail
Justice Campbell's failure to consider Kartel's time spent in jail while awaiting trial in 2014 led to a reduction in his parole eligibility.
2016: Release of Over 50 New Songs
Despite his imprisonment, Vybz Kartel released over 50 new songs in 2016.
2016: Release of "King of the Dancehall"
In 2016, Vybz Kartel, while imprisoned, released "King of the Dancehall," which reached number 2 on the US Billboard Reggae Charts. The album's single "Fever" topped local charts and streaming services, marking his most successful release to date.
2017: Release of "Real Bad Gal"
In 2017, Vybz Kartel collaborated again with Kingston Story producer Dre Skull for the single "Real Bad Gal."
2019: "Fully Gaza" Releases
Both of Kartel's sons were featured on the "Fully Gaza" riddim in 2019, with Little Vybz collaborating with his father on the title track and Little Addi performing solo on "Dolla Sign."
January 2020: Release of "To Tanesha"
In January 2020, Vybz Kartel released the 10-track album "To Tanesha," dedicated to his ex-girlfriend and mother of three of his children, Tanesha Johnson.
April 2020: Conviction Reaffirmed and Parole Eligibility Reduced
In April 2020, Kartel's conviction was reaffirmed, but his parole eligibility was reduced to 32 years and 6 months.
May 2020: Grandfatherhood
In May 2020, it was revealed that Kartel's 15-year-old son was expecting a child, making Vybz a grandfather for the first time.
June 2020: Release of "Of Dons & Divas" and Collaboration with Busta Rhymes
On June 26th, 2020, Vybz Kartel released his fifteenth studio album, "Of Dons & Divas." He also appeared on Busta Rhymes' 2020 album "Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God."
June 2020: "Fever" Certified Gold
Vybz Kartel's hit song "Fever" was certified gold in June 2020.
March 14, 2024: Conviction Quashed
On March 14, 2024, Vybz Kartel's murder conviction was quashed by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
June 2024: Decision on Retrial
The Jamaican Court of Appeal was set to decide on a potential retrial for Kartel in June 2024 following his conviction being quashed by the UK Privy Council due to juror misconduct.
2046: Parole Eligibility Date
Kartel's adjusted parole eligibility date is set for 2046.