Dancehall icon Vybz Kartel has migrated to Florida with apparently no intention of moving back to Jamaica. The prominent artiste revealed that he now resides in Florida, United States, marking a new chapter in his life.
The announcement came during an interview with The Breakfast Club on Friday morning. His appearance on the renowned New York-based radio show comes hours before his major concert at the Barclays Center.
During his discussion with Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy, Vybz Kartel was asked whether Jamaica still felt like a safe place for him. Kartel quickly responded, “Of course not,” confirming that since his US visa was reinstated, he relocated. “I live here [in the U.S.]; I live in Florida,” he said.
When questioned further about what led to that decision, the deejay explained that the move was not prompted by threats or hostility from the Jamaican government or the people. He indicated that the move was a necessary change after years of legal battles and incarceration.
Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, also expressed that it was a personal choice rooted in a desire to work and live peacefully. “I spent 13 years in prison, like seriously, that’s not a joke. I need to go out now, and I’m working,” he said. “Florida is good because it’s a hub. You can go to New York, you can go across the Atlantic, England, go west, you’re in LA. It’s a nice place to be geographically, where we can just move.”
Kartel also stressed his commitment to avoiding negativity and staying clear of the environments that once surrounded him in Jamaica. “I am just staying out of trouble. I don’t want to be in nothing negative, never. So we stay away from that,” he stated firmly.
Vybz Kartel appears focused on rebuilding his life and music career after spending 13 years in prison for the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, a conviction that was overturned in 2024 when Jamaica’s Court of Appeal upheld the United Kingdom Privy Council ruling.
