Vybz Kartel Reveals He Recorded ‘Fever’ on iPhone 5, Talks Afrobeats, Feeling Happy Etc: Interview

August 28, 2024

Vybz Kartel’s latest interview was released on Wednesday, it features him talking to American media/radio personalities Cipha Sounds and Rosenberg. Prior to Kartel getting online with the two hosts, they talked about the Potmore deejay’s impact in New York and other areas in the USA.

The two played several songs including ‘Broad Daylight‘ before the deejay got online. After he got online they first talked about his belief that he would be freed. Kartel expressed that “i never gave up hope” and he knew that once the case went to the Privy Council it would be turned around.

“12 years and 10 months to be exact,” he was incarcerated for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams, according to the outspoken Jamaican “i had sex” right after getting out of prison.

He went on to recall proposing to Sidem while he was in prison because he was very confident in getting out soon. With regards to how they met, the deejay states that Sidem “stalked” his baby mother’s Instagram until she found him and they have known each other for “9 years” now.

It was “prison prison” he said as he detailed to the foreigners that he did not get special treatment while behind bars.

With regards to recording songs in prison, he revealed that he started after he ran out of songs to release. He went on to disclose that he used an iPhone 5 to record songs such as “Fever” in his cell. He detailed that he wrapped his mattress around his head and performed into the phone.

Kartel normally recorded at “12 o’clock” when most of the guards were on break. He recalls having to stop and check for guards while recording songs. “I had the phone like 3 feet away from my face and I wrapped the mattress around my head and recorded… on my knees too bro… it was crazy bro.”

He next mentioned that his recording devices and phones usually get seized.

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With regards to his December 31 ‘Freedom Street Concert’ in Kingston at the National Stadium, he said it will be “The biggest concert since Bob Marly”. Palmer also mentioned that he has been getting “a lot of bookings” in the Caribbean and South America and hopes to perform in the US in the near future after his papers are sorted out.

In the interview, Vybz Kartel mentioned that Bounty Killer is his father in music.

Further on in the chat he stated that he is set to get back a lot of money from the ‘system’ as a result of his conviction being overturned. “I am supposed to get a lot of money back… i guess that’s financial sorry,” he stated.

“Fever, Clarks, Ramping Shop and Summer Time,” are Vybz Kartel’s most successful songs. “Bigup to Drake, Busta Rhymes, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B,” he also stated as he talked about the support he has been getting from overseas artistes.

“Bro since i came out, i’v been like 50% better already,” said Kartel as he talked about his visibly improved look now, when compared to his look on the first day out.

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Despite the many critics, he outlined that the “love” has been a lot from people.

With regards to Afrobeats, and working with artistes from the genre, he said “Bro i have no problem with Afrobeats man, like they doing their thing it’s one black music”. Notably, Buju Banton lashed out at Afrobeats artistes in a recent interview on Drink Champs, stating that the genre is not producing enough uplifting music for Africans.

Before ending the interview, Vybz Kartel mentioned that he feels “mellow” nowadays and more “happy” plus he loves his new self.

Check out the interview below: