In the second instalment of the interview with controversial dj Vybz Kartel, the artiste spoke about his ex-mentor Bounty Killer, and about becoming a mentor to the artistes in his Portmore Empire. We now move on to discussing his famous Sting clash with Ninja Man and the possibilities for Sting 2008.
KH: Alright, Sting with Ninja Man. How did that clash start?
(In December 2003, on Sting's 20th Anniversary, Ninja Man was roughed up onstage by friends of Vybz Kartel after physical contact between the two battling deejays. The night ended in a hail of bottles and the two were brought to court where they were charged with disorderly conduct and assault occasioning bodily harm. Both were later freed of the charges.)
VK: "You know seh a Ninja Man did really a boost di clash wid Alliance and you know I was a member at di time. Me being an authentic Jamaican, I couldn't turn down the challenge. He was the challenger."
KH: "Did you feel threatened after?"
VK: "Never."
KH: "Was it planned?"
VK: "We don't have to plan or rehearse. We're natural."
KH: "So who started the fight?"
VK: "Well, you would have to check www.youtube.com, the world can see it there (laughs)."
KH: "In clashing, a lot of harsh words are exchanged. Do you take it personally?"
VK: "Me? No man! Dats why dem waan clash mi, but mi just laugh and kill dem. Tek it to dem wid a smile."
KH: "Sting 2008, do you think you and Mavado will turn out like you and Ninja into a physical confrontation?"
VK: "No man. We don't get physical wid baby boys, only grown men. It isn't my standard to hit a child."
(Mavado and Kartel have been feuding on and off since Kartel left the Alliance. The confrontation has reached beyond words with both artistes' entourage inciting violence on different occasions. A peace conference was held last year under the guidance of DCP Mark Shields and RETV's CEO Kimani Robinson where the feuding stopped for a while. The two however are at it again.)
KH: "What are your thoughts on Mavado?"
VK: "I don't think about Mavado."
KH: "Is it personal or musical?"
VK: "It couldn't be personal. I don't get personal wid man."
KH: "Do you think you need to clash and defeat a top deejay onstage to cement your place in Jamaican music?"
VK: "No. Vybz Kartel don't have to clash anyone to cement my place. Vybz Kartel is one of di baddest deejays ever. Mi a talk 'bout in Jamaican history, I'm not being conceited or hype, I mean baddest deejays ever. Even those who don't like mi have to say that I'm one of the baddest in history."
(Despite being 'one of the baddest deejays in history', Kartel has not been able to develop on his large American fan base. Currently the artiste is without a visa to travel to the United States, this many believe, has restricted his career.)
KH: As for your visa issues, what's happening with that?
VK: "Any case that is before a council and is under their jurisdiction I can not disclose of it."
KH: Do you think not being able to travel to America hasn't allowed you to reach farther in your career?
VK: "Yeah, in that market, but nowhere else. Wherever there are more than one Jamaican gathering, Vybz Kartel is being played. I always have an ethnic market worldwide."
(A market that includes Kartel's Empire, the artiste brings his aspiring deejays/family on tours such as the one they all did in Guyana recently)
KH: How did you choose persons to be a part of your Portmore Empire?
VK: "In the initial stages I didn't choose anyone. We were just always a group, even when I was in Alliance, I always used to roll with them as a unit, then when I left Alliance, we all on the same stage. Is nutting new, it just has a name."
KH: Who are the members of the Portmore Empire?
VK: Shaun Storm, Blak Ryno, Lisa Hype, Jah Vinci and Dosa Medicine."
KH: Do you think they are talented?
VK: "I don't think so, I know and it has been proven."
(Kartel's Portmore Empire hasn't always been a cohesive unit as seen with former Portmore member Deva Bratt. Deva Bratt was taken into custody early this year in connection with an alleged carnal abuse case against a 14-year-old. The artiste was released in November, before his release Deva was supposedly kicked out of the Empire by Kartel.)
KH: What really happened between you and Deva?
VK: "Deva Brat, we don't discuss (accused) rapers."
In the fourth instalment of the interview 'di teacha' gets personal talking about his mother, religion and women
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I have so much KNOWLEDGE in my head till it might cause a BRAIN DAMAGE! But how I'm going to know what to do or MANAGE if I don't GAIN KNOWLEDGE?
KH: "Sting 2008, do you think you and Mavado will turn out like you and Ninja into a physical confrontation?"
VK: "No man. We don't get physical wid baby boys, only grown men. It isn't my standard to hit a child."
KH: "Is it personal or musical?"
VK: "It couldn't be personal. I don't get personal wid man."
me daddy seh BILL
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I NEVER fail, i'm just SUCCESSFUL in finding out what doesn't work Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.
VK: "No man. We don't get physical wid baby boys, only grown men. It isn't my standard to hit a child."....U DON'T GET PHYSICAL WITH BABY BOYS BUT YET STILL U DID DRIVE BY DI GULLY...TRY ANOTHER WAY FI GIVE A LAUGH YUTE IT NAH WORK
VK: "It couldn't be personal. I don't get personal wid man."....U DON'T GET PERSONAL WID MAN YET STILL JEFFERY NOT SO HYPE HAVE U FACE PON HIM BODY...LUUUUEEEE
VK: "I don't think so, I know and it has been proven." VK: "Deva Brat, we don't discuss (accused) rapers."...U A STYLE DEVA & NO ARTIST NUH SEX UNDERAGE GAL MORE DAN U....IN DI STREETZ MI DEH WI KNOWS IT ALL YUTE...BILL MICHAEL JACKSON LOOK ALIKE BADANG!!!
VK: "No man. We don't get physical wid baby boys, only grown men. It isn't my standard to hit a child."....U DON'T GET PHYSICAL WITH BABY BOYS BUT YET STILL U DID DRIVE BY DI GULLY...TRY ANOTHER WAY FI GIVE A LAUGH YUTE IT NAH WORK
VK: "It couldn't be personal. I don't get personal wid man."....U DON'T GET PERSONAL WID MAN YET STILL JEFFERY NOT SO HYPE HAVE U FACE PON HIM BODY...LUUUUEEEE
VK: "I don't think so, I know and it has been proven." VK: "Deva Brat, we don't discuss (accused) rapers."...U A STYLE DEVA & NO ARTIST NUH SEX UNDERAGE GAL MORE DAN U....IN DI STREETZ MI DEH WI KNOWS IT ALL YUTE...BILL MICHAEL JACKSON LOOK ALIKE BADANG!!!