Kartel staying strong for kids, mother

The much-anticipated Part two of Vybz Kartel's interview aired on Fox 5 NY Thursday night. From his jail cell, Kartel spoke about the haters being an influence, not knowing he would ever be rich, gratitude and being the King of Dancehall.

In her introduction, Lisa Evers noted, "Music critics from the Caribbean to North America and even the UK say dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel has always [been] the one to beat. He just released a new chart-topping album, even though he is behind bars for a murder he insists he did not commit. He speaks about how he keeps his head up, even though some look at him as just a killer."

Asked how he stayed strong, "I have to because I know they want to destroy me, and if you know Lisa that somebody wants to destroy you, that's where they're going to get their pleasure from. Now you have to be on top of your game; you have to constantly be proving them wrong. So I think the haters are as much an influence to me in prison as the fans are. So that's how I kinda stay strong for my kids and my mother."

Evers, noting that Kartel was the accepted "King of the Dancehall, period", asked him to define his kingship.

"In dancehall, it is the influence that you have, the dominance that you have, the power that you have to destroy people if it is necessary, musically. That's what the king is," he said.

Kartel then went on to talk about riches. "When I was growing up, I didn't know I was going to be rich. I grew up in the '80s, and I thought rich people were rich, poor people were poor, that was it; it couldn't change. So I have to count my blessings to see that it can really change. And a lot of people have that mindset thinking that they are nobody and nothing. So me beating that mindset, getting that opportunity. I have to be grateful," he said.

Evers revealed that what Kartel misses most is performing live for his fans.

The interview with Evers was titled 'Vybz Kartel: His Fight for Freedom'. Kartel's attorney, Isat Buchanan, told The Gleaner that the interview was conducted while the artiste was being housed at the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre.

"My instructions are that the interview was done while at the Spanish Town facility. He was moved to Horizon shortly after. He is now housed at Horizon in a secured facility with state-of-the-art technology as stated by the minister of national security," Buchanan said.

It was reported in June that Vybz Kartel had been transferred to the Horizon Remand Centre in Kingston, where there are 24 newly constructed cells and access to cellphones can be curtailed.

Vybz Kartel is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams. Following an appeal which thrown out in 2020, his legal team was granted permission to appeal to the United Kingdom-based judicial committee of the Privy Council.

Buchanan told The Gleaner that there was nothing new to report as it regards the appeal.

In Part one of the interview, Kartel stated, "God save the Queen because she is the only one who can save me now."