How Did Vybz Kartel Make Music in Jail?

Vybz Kartel is back home. However, one thing that has lingered on everyone’s mind is how he managed to remain as prolific as he did behind bars. Sure, there’s no doubt that he recorded an incredible amount of music before he was sentenced to life in prison in 2014 for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. However, the fact that for over 13 years, he continuously dominated the summers and released countless singles and projects has raised many questions surrounding his studio circumstances. 

Kartel, who has been a cornerstone of dancehall, was released from prison earlier this year after he successfully won his appeal. Shortly after, he released his 12-song mixtape, First Week Out – a testament to his efficient creative flow. As he does the rounds with the media, he’s finally unveiled his secret to maintaining his relevance in the music industry throughout all these years.

Read More: Why Was Vybz Kartel Jailed?

Background

Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Palmer, was embroiled in a highly publicized criminal case since 2011. He was convicted in 2014 for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, a charge that has led to a life sentence. The case has been controversial. Kartel maintained his innocence and his legal team highlighted procedural issues during the trial, including concerns about juror bias and the mishandling of evidence. In 2024, the UK Privy Council quashed his conviction, citing these procedural flaws, and Kartel is now a free man.

Rumors Of A Prison Studio

Vybz Kartel performs in New York City
Hot 97’s “On Da Reggae Tip Live” at Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday night, September 2, 2005.This image:Vybz Kartel. (Photo by Hiroyuki Ito/Getty Images)

Over the years, several rumors ran rampant surrounding the circumstances that allowed Vybz Kartel to record and release music while incarcerated. Since recording music is unauthorized in prison, some suggested that he had privileged access to a professional studio, which was never actually proven. Others believed that the vault of unreleased music he left behind had enough songs to flood the streets.

It remained a mystery throughout his sentence, and in 2020, he fueled speculation even further in an interview with Billboard. “It’s a secret like the Colonel’s recipe. The true secret to success is commitment, hard work, smart work, self-analysis and most important, humility,” he responded. “Once I face a riddim (rhythm track), I’m not worldboss, just a man with a pen, paper and a track. Other artists are working hard, so I think it’s just the formula.”

When asked exactly how he’s produced so much work given his circumstances, he responded, “Many people say YES! VYBZ IS RECORDING IN PRISON!! But where’s the proof? But this is Jamaica where you don’t need proof to imprison someone. For the record, I’m not authorized to answer such ‘above pay grade’ questions so I’ll say, ‘a tree fell in the forest and no one was there to hear it.’”

Read More: Who Is Vybz Kartel’s Fiancée? Everything To Know About Sidem Ozturk

Vybz Reveals His Secrets

During a recent appearance on the Juan Ep Is Life podcast, Vybz Kartel provided a rare glimpse into his life during his incarceration. He discussed his ongoing battle with Graves’ Disease, the first thing he did upon his release, and so much more. However, the most notable part of the interview came when Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg delved into the logistics of Kartel’s ability to continuously release music.

Kartel explained he was able to release music through a backlog of unreleased songs. “​​In the first year, we had songs unreleased,” said Kartel. “But then the songs ran out and we had to do what we had to do. That’s when I started recording behind bars.” This ultimately led him to get creative by using nothing more than an iPhone.

Vybz Kartel Makeshift Studio

Kartel’s method was nothing short of ingenious. Without access to a professional studio, he improvised by using his prison-issued mattress to create a makeshift sound booth. He explained how he would position his iPhone a few feet away from his face. Then, he would wrap the mattress around his head to muffle any unwanted noise. This setup allowed him to capture vocals with surprisingly good sound quality. Afterward, he would then send it to a trusted engineer on the outside.

“I would have to Deejay directly into the iPhone,” he explained. “I would have the phone, like, 3 feet from my face and I would wrap the mattress around my head and record. It was crazy,” he explained. He used an iPad to play the instrumental while recording his vocals on the iPhone. Vybz would then send the vocals to an engineer who would mix it to sound crisp and professional. 

Read More: Vybz Kartel Drops Off His Latest Banger “Sociopath”

The Inception Of “Fever”

One of Vybz Kartel’s biggest songs came during his incarceration with “Fever.” The song, which appeared on his 2016 album, King Of Dancehall, has since earned over 100 million streams on Spotify alone, according to Billboard. However, because of the rules in prison, he had to sneakily record music at odd hours of the day. “Most of the time, we had to record like at night but sometimes, it had to be like 12 o’clock when most of the officers would be on like lunch break and I would still have to be watching,” he explained. “So I’d be like, ‘fever!’ and then I’d have to get up and look. It was crazy. It was line by line!”

What’s Next For Vybz Kartel?

The expansive interview touches on several topics including some live performances, both in Jamaica and abroad. Currently, he’s planning for his comeback show on December 31st, 2024 – the Freedom Street Concert, taking place in Kingston, Jamaica. Hopefully, he’ll be touching the United States in the future. But for now, we’re happy that he’s back home.

The post How Did Vybz Kartel Make Music in Jail? appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

WATCH: Nas Gives a Glimpse Inside His Birthday Party in “Fever” Video

Nas Gives a Glimpse Inside His Birthday Party in "Fever" Video

Nas has delivered a brand new music video for “Fever,” a track from his latest album, Magic 3. This album results from the enduring partnership between Nas and longtime collaborator Hit-Boy, produced under Mass Appeal.

Directed by Leff, the “Fever” video takes viewers inside Nas’s opulent birthday celebration, attended by legendary music and entertainment industry peers. The guest list included luminaries like Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Hit-Boy, Fat Joe, and even Hollywood legend Robert De Niro. They all gathered to commemorate Nas’s 50th birthday and the release of Magic 3

This album features 15 fresh tracks and marks the final chapter of the legendary collaboration between Nas and Hit-Boy. It’s a testament to their extraordinary run together in the world of hip-hop.

In celebration of Magic 3 and Nas’s 50th birthday, fans can now connect to access exclusive merchandise, including limited editions of the album on vinyl, which are available at shop.massappeal.com.

The video is available below.

The post WATCH: Nas Gives a Glimpse Inside His Birthday Party in “Fever” Video first appeared on The Source.

The post WATCH: Nas Gives a Glimpse Inside His Birthday Party in “Fever” Video appeared first on The Source.

Nas Uses “Fever” Music Video To Commemorate His 50th Birthday Party

When Nas raises a glass of champagne these days, there are so many things he could be celebrating. For one, he just finalized his collaborative double trilogy series with Hit-Boy with the release of Magic 3, bringing their legendary run to a triumphant close. Also, there’s the Queens MC’s 50th birthday, which fittingly and almost perfectly coincides with the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop. For his latest music video, he combined all of these elements together to make an extravagant and joyous tribute. The track “Fever” was a perfect fit for this, both as Magic 3‘s opening cut and one of its most effective homages to the game and to the Queens legend’s life.

Specifically, the visual covers his 50th birthday party in New York, which held so many stars within and outside of the genre. Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Raekwon, Slick Rick, DJ Premier, Hit-Boy, Fat Joe, Black Thought, and even Robert DeNiro pop up as cameos in the video, along with many others. They all attended Nas’ huge party, and other names like Kendrick Lamar also stopped by to pay their respects and congratulations. For one of the greatest MCs to ever live, we can expect nothing less luxurious, victorious, and special.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar Joins Nas At His 50th Birthday Party, They & Hit-Boy Share A Moment

Nas & Hit-Boy’s “Fever” Music Video: Watch

In addition, if you didn’t already think “Fever” was a lavish and evocative song, its music video will certainly convince you. For example, the sampled strings in the instrumental pair perfectly with images of fancy dishes, tuxedos, and expensive bottles of liquor and spirits. When you hear the “Represent” callback to one of Nas’ classic hits and see Preemo on the screen, you can’t help but feel goosebumps. All in all, it made for something that almost feels like a send-off, but we know that the Mass Appeal head honcho will always have gas in the tank.

Meanwhile, Magic 3 finished off what might become one of the best runs and collabs in the 2020s decade. It’s something that producer Hit-Boy dreamt of ten years before they linked up, and the fruits of their labor were golden. Here’s hoping they continue to chase those dreams, which age can never fade away. For more updates and the latest news on Nas, come back to HNHH.

Read More: Nas & Hit-Boy’s “Magic” Trilogy Albums, Ranked

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