Vybz Kartel is not a fan of Kendrick Lamar, and thinks Drake not only won their battle but that he is simply a “better and bigger artist.”
In his new cover story for Billboard, Kartel was asked about his thoughts on the feud and he made his stance crystal clear.
“I’m not a fan of Kendrick,” he said. “I don’t even listen to Kendrick, so I wouldn’t know. What does he rap? I saw it on the internet, but no disrespect to the dude, I hear him, but I don’t listen to him. Drake is more in tune with Jamaica and the culture. Drake is a better and bigger artist.”
He also told Complex in December: “Kendrick is a lyricist and I am also a lyricist. So I appreciate his art. But to me, Drake gets the point across on a global scale.”
AD LOADING...
Drake was among the many stars rejoicing in Vybz Kartel’s release from prison over the summer.
The dancehall legend was released on July 31 after Jamaica’s Court of Appeals upheld his overturned murder conviction. He had spent 13 years behind bars.
Drizzy, a noted fan of Kartel, celebrated his newfound freedom by posting a selfie of him wearing a T-shirt adorned with a painting of the self-proclaimed king of dancehall.
He also wrote in a separate post: “BOSS FREE UP NOW! Adidjaaaaaaa,” referencing the artist’s real name.
AD LOADING...
Cardi B shared her excitement by filming herself listening to Vybz’s song “Dollar Sign” during a car journey and writing: “Welcome home world @vybzkartel.”
Busta Rhymes, who has worked with the Jamaican star on numerous songs and who has Jamaican heritage himself, posted an effusive message on Instagram alongside a video of Kartel walking out of prison.
“THE BLESSINGS DON’T STOP SO WE WILL NEVER STOP!! WELCOME HOME TO THE WORLD BOSS AND TEACHA @vybzkartel,” he wrote. “IT’S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY AND A LONG FIGHT, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST DAYS WITH THE GREATEST NEWS IN A VERY LONG TIME!! GLAD THAT THE KING HAS RETURNED!!”
Fellow Kartel collaborator DJ Khaled also shared the same clip on social media, adding: “@vybzkartel GOD DID!”
AD LOADING...
Vybz Kartel (real name Adidja Azim Palmer) was initially sentenced to life in prison in 2014 for the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, but his conviction was overturned in early 2024.
The ruling came after it was revealed that one of the jurors who put him in jail had been bribed and therefore should have been removed from the jury.
Kartel was not initially freed from prison as the Court of Appeal had yet to rule on whether there would be a retrial.
