News Americas, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Thurs. Oct. 6, 2011: Controversial Jamaican dancehall star, Vybz Kartel, has yet to be formally charged with murder, even though reports of his arrest on murder charges has made global headlines.
While the singer, born Adidja Palmer, has been arrested on a murder rap, his case again was not listed in a Kingston Court Wednesday, meaning the the singer did not appear to be formally charged on murder, conspiracy to commit murder and illegal possession of firearm.
Kartel, known as Adi or Di Teacha to fans, is accused of conspiring to murder Barrington ‘Bossie’ Burton, a 27-year-old businessman and music promoter in the Kingston suburb of Portmore.
“The allegation is that on Monday, July 11, 2011, Palmer along with other men conspired to murder Barrington Burton, otherwise called ‘Bossie’, a 27-year-old businessman/promoter of a Gregory Park address in St Catherine,” the JCF said. “Burton was murdered while he was standing with friends along Walkers Avenue in Gregory Park.”
On the heels of the arrest, telecommunications company LIME has cancelled the reality show, ‘Teacha’s Pet,’ starring Kartel.
Kartel ‘s attorney, Christian Tavares-Finson, said he had not yet seen the case file but insisted his client is prepared to fight the charges.
Kartel rose to prominence in 2003 after a string of hits in Jamaica. He soon established his own label, Adidjahiem/Notnice Records, with his business partner and producer Ainsley “Notnice” Morris.
In 2010, he released his album Pon Di Gaza 2.0 on Adidjahiem/Notnice Records in collaboration with Tads Record Inc.
Kartel has worked on collaborations and remixes with Hip Hop and R&B musicians Jay-Z, Rihanna, Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, M.I.A, Pharrell, Kardinal Offishal, Akon, Jim Jones, Lil Wayne and Eminem.
In 2009 he had two international hits with “Ramping Shop” debuting on the Billboard Top 100 Singles charts, and “Dollar Sign” in regular rotation on urban radio stations in the US.
His 2010 single “Clarks” was one of his biggest international successes, remaining in the top 3 Reggae Singles gaining the most radio plays in North America for 40 weeks.
“Clarks” was also featured on the TV series So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and on a CNN segment on Dancehall dance. MTV’s Vice Guide to Dancehall featured Kartel at his weekly dance party, Street Vybz Thursday.
See Kartel in one of his videos here:
