Biography

Adidja Azim Palmer (born January 7, 1976), better known by his stage name Vybz Kartel, is a celebrated Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist, songwriter, record producer, businessman, and a former convict.

He, a veritable titan of the Jamaican dancehall scene and the former inmate has made a name for himself with his provocative lyrics and larger-than-life personality. Affectionately known as the World Boss, Vybz Kartel has released a slew of successful albums over the years, with his most recent offering, Born Fi Dis (Prelude), dropping in 2021.

Vybz Kartel‘s career in the limelight 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.

Vybz Kartel
Vybz Kartel: History ‧ Bio ‧ Photo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Full Name:	Adidja Azim Palmer
Stage Name:	Vybz Kartel
Born:	7 January 1976 (age 48 years old)
Place of Birth:	Kingston, Jamaica
Nationality:	Jamaican
Height:	1.83 m
Parents:	Teresa Palmer
Siblings:	Maureen Palmer-Nelson
Wife • Spouse:	Stacy Elliott (m. 2006–2008), Tanesha Johnson
Girlfriend • Partner:	N/A
Children:	Little Addi, World Boss Jr, Adi’Anna Ashanti Palmer, Little Vybz
Occupation:	Musician • Businessman
Net Worth:	$5.5 million

Early Life & 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 a sister named Maureen Palmer-Nelson, Vybz Kartel was exposed to music at a young age, thanks to his uncles, who were also musicians.

Despite being expelled from Calabar High School at 16, Vybz Kartel persevered and eventually graduated from a technical tutoring school with top marks in subjects like arithmetic, geography, literature, and English. 

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His passion for music grew stronger during this time, with artists like Will Smith, Charlie Chaplin, Papa San, Ninja Man, and KRS-1 serving as his main sources of inspiration. By the time he was 11, Vybz Kartel was already composing 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 years old, was blessed with the arrival of his first child. The product of his longstanding relationship with Tanesha “Shorty” Johnson, this child was just the beginning of a veritable brood for the dancehall artist. Over the years, he has sired four offspring with six different partners.

In May 2020, a momentous event occurred within Vybz Kartel‘s extended family: his 15-year-old son was expecting a child with an 18-year-old woman, making him a grandfather for the first time.

Marriage has also played a role in Vybz Kartel‘s personal life. He has been wed twice, first to Stacy Elliott from 2006 to 2008 and currently to Tanesha Johnson. His progeny 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 label One Heart. At the time, he was known as Adi Banton, a pseudonym inspired by the legendary Buju Banton.

After joining the group Vybz Cartel, he continued to use the name even after the group disbanded and was taken under the tutelage of Bounty Killer. He boasts a prolific catalog of nearly 30 songs written with this group, including the fan-favorite Gal Clown.

In 2009, Vybz Kartel experienced a 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 regular airplay on urban radio stations in the US. However, his 2010 hit Clarks truly solidified his place in the international reggae scene, spending 40 weeks in the top three reggae singles and receiving heavy radio play in North America.

In 2010, Vybz Kartel‘s singles Clarks, Clarks 2 (Clarks Again), and Clarks 3 (Wear Weh Yuh Have) were met with widespread acclaim and heavy demand in Jamaica. The popularity of these tracks led to them being featured on the TV show So You Think You Can Dance Canada and in a CNN segment about dancehall dance.

In 2011, Vybz Kartel debuted his own line of footwear, dubbed Addi’s, as well as a line of cake soap, which is typically used to clean clothes rather than treat skin conditions such as acne. However, his brand of cake soap was formulated specifically to lighten or bleach the skin.

Despite being incarcerated since 2011, Vybz Kartel has continued to release new music, much to the chagrin of Jamaican prison officials who claim that he is not permitted to record. The source of these recordings remains shrouded in mystery.

In 2016, while still behind bars, Vybz Kartel released his most successful album to date, King of the Dancehall, which reached the lofty heights of number 2 on the US Billboard Reggae Charts. The album included the hit single Fever, which topped various local music charts and became his most successful song on streaming websites.

Net Worth

With an estimated net worth of $5.5 million, Vybz Kartel stands as one of the most accomplished and financially successful reggae artists hailing from Jamaica. His unique style of music has captured the hearts and ears of fans around the world, leading to the release of numerous hit songs and albums over the years.

Vybz Kartel‘s music has also been featured in films and television shows, and his talents have been recognized with various awards and accolades. In short, he is a veritable titan of the Jamaican music scene and a shining example of the island’s rich cultural heritage.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @Vybzkartel
• Twitter handle: @Vybz_official

Discography

• Teak Buddy
• Picture This
• Ramping Shop
• Sex & The City
• Tell You Say
• Slew Dem Like David
• Yuh Love
• Summertime
• Step Up Inna Life
• Life Sweet
• Last Man Standing
• Go Go Wine
• Street Vybz Girl
• Good Father/Mi, Sorry
• Lip Gloss
• Reparation
• Party Me Say
• Daddy Devil
• Look Pon Me
• Bubble Hard
• Me A Pree
• Fever
• Dancehall Hero
• Wickedest Ride
• Makeup

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