The Breakfast Club - INTERVIEW: Vybz Kartel On Cultural Influence, Lessons From Prison, Meeting His Fiancé, Kings Of Dancehall + More

Episode Date: April 11, 2025

The Breakfast Club Sits Down With Vybz Kartel To Discuss Cultural Influence, Lessons From Prison, Meeting His Fiancé, Kings Of Dancehall. Listen For More!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey kids, it's me, Kevin Smith. And it's me, Harley Quinn Smith. That's my daughter, man, who my wife has always said is just a beardless, d***less version of me. And that's the name of our podcast, Beardless, D***less Me. I'm the old one. I'm the young one.

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It's a work in progress. Listen to Beardless, D***less Me on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your kid. Could be a family show. We're not quite sure. We're still figuring it out. It's a work in progress. Listen to Beardless S***less Me on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever. You get your podcast. The championship is back in the Bay for the first time in 40 years. On the new limited podcast series, Dub Dynasty, we hear from head coach Steve Kerr on how Steph Curry almost never even joined the Warriors. In fact, I thought we had a draft date deal to end up getting him to Phoenix. For the entire behind the scenes story of Golden State's incredible 10-year run,

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We are The Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the building. Yes indeed, the legendary. Vibes Cartel. Welcome brother. Hey, what's up man? Hello. How you feeling man?

I feel like a million dollars right now. Man, every time I walk through the airport the last two weeks, everybody there, all the Caribbean people, you got to have vibes on the Breakfast Club. Vibes gonna be in Brooklyn on April 11th, you gotta have them on the Breakfast Club. All in the building, all through the streets,

they knew you were coming. So, first and foremost, how does it feel to be back here and being able to perform? How does that feel? What is that feeling like? I mean, it's a blessing, you know, and it's a feeling of accomplishment, because, you know what I mean, these are the things

that we have worked for over the years. So to be here now and see it actualize itself, it feels like an accomplished, you know what I mean, feeling, yes. You sold out two shows at the Barclay immediately. Too easy. Did you ever think... Did you think it would be like that? Of course.

With ticket prices of like $7,000 for seats? Yeah, of course. Like I said, I put the work in. So everything is happening to me. I deserve it, man. God is the greatest. You know what I mean? We work hard over the years.

We built a huge catalog. So the music speaks for itself as it relates to dance hall and for me to represent the culture. So that was no surprise, man. My manager wanted to do a third night. You could have. You could have immediately. I'm 49. I'm not that strong.

You're a man after young, man. I know, but remember, we're coming from prison. I'm sick, you know what I mean? So that's why that makes it more of a blessing, you know what I mean, to know that, you know what I mean? So that's why, that makes it more of a blessing, you know what I mean? To know that, you know what I mean? Coming from prison, 13 years, still battling with my illness and the love that the people show me, man.

If it's not God, I don't know who it is. Nobody wants to go to prison, but it feels like prison made you larger than life. Like just from a career perspective. No, I agree with you. From a career perspective, do you think it preserved your legacy and made it bigger? I mean, sorry.

Yeah, I think so. I think it did. But like I said, everything happens for a purpose. I mean, if God has a plan for you, he has a plan for you. You have to just work with it. I look at it the opposite way, though, because I feel like people heard the music but couldn't see the face.

Like I felt like you would have been an even bigger artist because they just couldn't touch you. Or if I was free, maybe I would have died. Who knows, in a car accident or something. So you gotta just focus on what is. Right. You know what I mean? And that's how I live my life.

Like it is what it is. I'm here. I did 13 years, but now I'm here. And that's in my rear view. Why fear? During your time in prison though, you released a lot of music. How was that managing your career

even behind bars, like being in there? I mean, like I said, I had to do it. That was too easy, man. Like, yeah. I always try to find innovative ways to do what I do. And that was just one of them. Like, I had to do it. I had people depending on me. I had a family to feed. I had my career to maintain. So that's too easy.

And even that with being sick though, were there times where you just like, man, fuck this? No, no, no. I couldn't do that. Like I said, I have people depending on me. It's like I couldn't slack off. You know what I mean, Envy? You know, you got kids, you got kids. You can't slack off, man. So for me, it was, yeah, and my children are a big part of my motivation to my mother as well. And I mean, just family in general. So I couldn't, I didn't have time for self pity

or to be like, oh, well, no. But you were really sick though. I guess I'm saying like, how did you fight? Like just having a strength to fight through that and still make music and all of that and keep your mental where it needed to be to really commit to that music so you can still be the vibes cartel

and deliver what people wanted to hear. And I understand that's a good question too because in Jamaican prison it's not like American prison. Jamaican prison is real dungeon style. Wow. You know what I mean? No toilets in the cells and crazy work. No toilet in the cells?

No. You know how I got toilet in my cell? When Lisa Evers did that piece. They did the special. Yes. That's when they put the toilet, installed the toilet in. It was crazy shit. Did you?

Unintended. So what did they, So what did they had you using before? Using? Newspaper. Wow. Yes. Yeah, so you can read while you,

Wow. But I got, you know, you put out so much music. People assume that you had a studio in prison cause it just, the music didn't sound old old it always sound new, it always sound fresh. I mean somebody passed away you'd be talking about him in the song I'm just joking. But you had so did you have a studio? That's no I had a phone the iPhone 5s that's the yeah that's recorded like the Fever album. No. The Viking album, yes. Really? I kid you not. Yeah man, 5S and a mattress and some prisoners looking out.

That was it. That was it man, and determination and God himself. Wow. So that's it, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's crazy work. Was there ever any time in that 13 years, especially when you started getting sick, that you was like, man, I don't know if I'm gonna make it out of here.

Yeah man, there were times I thought that I wouldn't make it but like I still had to put in the work, I still had to do, I don't know how I'm gonna make it out of here. Yeah, man, there were times I thought that I wouldn't make it, but, like, I still had to put in the work. I still had to do what I had to do. You know what I mean? Like, it is what it is, man. Like, if I die, at least I die trying. You know what I mean? Because that's just my mindset. You know what I mean? But, yeah, there were times I was like,

I even talked to my mother. I was like, mom. And she was like, no, fight it, man. Pray. You know? So, yeah, yeah, I'm even talked to my mother. I was like, mom. She was like, no, fight it, man, pray. So yeah, I'm big up to my mother. She's a blessing in my life as well. And how did you finally get out? Because they were fighting to keep you in for a long time. They were fighting appeals. Anything that you tried, they were fighting.

What was the one thing that says, what was that turn? I mean, you're right. They wanted to keep me there forever, but I mean, when the case went that says, what was that turn? I mean, you're right, they wanted to keep me there forever, but I mean, I sent, when the case went to England, you know what I mean? Because the thing is, Jamaica, and I don't wanna, there's a lot of people in the system in Jamaica, they support me as well, but the system really just,

I think they wanted to make an example. Oh man. You know what I mean? Out of me, because the case is clear cut. Like I've always told my manager, my family, bro, I'm coming out. Once my family, bro, I'm coming out. Once my case reaches England, I'm out. And so said, so done, because it's open-shut case. You messed up here, you messed up here.

This is wrong, this is wrong. Freedom, man. Easy as that. Have they ever apologized or said, my bad, sorry, anything? I don't need apologies, sir. I need money. Freedom, freedom, the best apology. Exactly, apologies, sir. I need. I need money. I need money.

Freedom, freedom, the best apology. Exactly, right? Yeah. Exactly, so I'm good, man. I'm not looking back. I'm not even suing. Yeah, no, I'm not that. I'm not even pursuing, so no suing.

Like, fuck that. Chapter is done. Why do you think they wanted to make an example out of you? Because of my influence. I mean, people compare Cartel to Bob Marley and then people say, but Bob Marley and Cartel do two different types of songs. Yes, but the influence is the same.

That's why you got shot. That's why you had to leave Jamaica at one point. So that is, you know, you know, Caribbean country, it's a third world country. It's a political charged atmosphere. So influential people that they can't control is dangerous. So I mean, but yeah, we here still, man. But you know, the worst thing you can give a person

like that is time. Because now you sitting there and you being still and you really hearing God and hearing what your purpose is. Exactly, man, I prayed so much, man. Like nobody can tell me nothing, Charlamagne. Don't come at me with no atheism, no rubbish like that. God is real and I'm living testimony of that, man. Trust me, so I feel blessed every day.

How is your health now? Work in progress. So definitely a work in progress, but it was worse. When I came out, my head was this big, like the Pillsbury Doughboy, it was a big fucking duck. It was crazy, man. But we're working, yeah, yeah, yeah. Can you describe the moment you were released?

Like what that emotion was? I'm still processing sinning, I swear to you. I swear to you, man. Because there were times like I never lost faith, but when they actually opened the gate, I was the last one out of my cell. I was just like, is this really, am I dreaming right now? What the hell is this?

I had all my clothes on, the full white that you see me walk out in. Didn't put my shoes on yet, and I just said a little prayer. And I just walked out, man. When I was walking in the yard and all the prisoners were shaking the doors, and it was like a out, man, when I was walking in the yard and all the prisoners were shaking the doors and it was like an earthquake, man.

I'm not gonna lie, I shed a tear or two. Tears of joy. Tears of joy, yeah, yeah. And then I just walked through the gate. But throughout my incarceration, I never cried, I never felt sorry for myself, you know? I just know that this is something that I have to get through. By the grace of God, man, God did. Big up Khaled.

What did God tell you to do? No, it's not tell you to do, like, but when you pray, you listen to that voice in your head, in your heart. Humble yourself, chill. You know what I mean? Eat. I actually stopped I mean? Eat. I actually stopped smoking too.

A few years ago. I was like, I just listened to that divine voice in my head, in my heart. And it just led me to the right place. You know what I mean? I made a pact, a covenant with God in prison. Lord, if you get me out of this, trust me, I will never stop calling your name.

I'll never stop being positive. I'll never stop spreading that message of love and happiness and joy. And I'm doing that right now. And I won't stop. I mean, no, till my last breath, man. Trust me. And what was the first thing you did when you got out?

Because I remember when you got out. I'm sad. I'm sad. I'm sad. People were waiting for you to announce a show. Like everybody wanted a show, wanted music, but it took you some time for that. So what were you doing? The man just told you he was getting some cheeks.

You think he played? For money, man. For that poor girl. Exactly. Well, I was in prison for years, sir. Stop it. Come on. But yeah, man, I was just chilling with family mostly, like I said, my mother, my father,

my kids, my grandchildren. When I came out of prison, I was just chilling with family mostly, like I said, my mother, my father, my kids, my grandchildren. When I came out of prison, I had three grandkids. But when I was going in, I had babies. So you know what I mean, 13 years is a long time, trust me. For me right now, it's just God, family, music, that's it. Who was your biggest allies when you were locked up, celebrity wise, I know.

Busta. Busta, he always says your name. Always rang your name. Easily Spice, easily Popcorn. You know what I mean? A lot of people don't see easily, boom, I don't even have to think. My brother slash manager, TJ.

You know what I mean? Yeah, I Shana, she came to visit me several times. Cause a lot of people are scared. So it wasn't that they didn't want to come, but just the stigma associated with. Yeah. Yeah, so like Spice, like Shawna, Popcorn, Bustamama, I got to give it shout out to them, man.

Give them props. Relationships are tough, you know, in general, but what do you think made your relationship with your fiancee work while serving a life sentence? Because she believed. I mean, she believed. I met her in 2015, July 25. Never forget. I mean, we've been on and off. You know, I go, she's in the free world. I'm in prison.

She lives in her life. Still whatever, blah, blah, blah. But she was always there. So in 2022, I decided like, yo, like I said, I started being more spiritual, putting my faith in God. And I told her, I'm like, yo, I'm coming out. Come to Jamaica. And she came. And she said, I'm being more spiritual, putting my faith in God. I told her, I'm like, yo, I'm coming out.

Come to Jamaica. And she came, she left everything, came to Jamaica. Where was she at? She was, she's from London. Okay, okay, okay. Yeah. You met her on Instagram, I heard that. Yes, sir.

Wow. Oh, wow. Yeah, it was crazy. How could you trust that though? That could have been catfish. I know, but like I said, it was years, 2015. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what I mean? And I was talking to every now and then we spoke

and we started speaking on a regular basis. And yeah, so it took a while for me to trust her. She actually came to Jamaica the first time in 2019. That's four years after we were talking, just on the phone talking, you know what I mean? Having e-sex. Okay, all right, yeah, we got it. Phone sex, phone sex.

That's right. I'm glad you didn't shake my hand. Yeah, I'm glad you didn't shake my hand. Look at how left I'm in. Hey. It's the wish. When she came in 2019, you actually got to put the face to the end and she looked exactly like the pictures?

Yeah, yeah. She looked exactly like the pictures. That was before AI, so she couldn't shoot pictures. But she came to visit me and it was a vibe. So in 2022, I was like, yo, coming out, come to Jamaica, come live. She was like, are you sure? She's British. I'm like, yes, come.

And she came and she did two years before I came out. So she came to visit me every time there was a visit. If I was in a bad mood sometime and I'd be like, yo, I don't want to see nobody. She'd cry or she'd come to the prison still. The guards would be like, hey, your fiance is outside. And I'm like, okay, I'll go. You know what I mean? So yeah, she's been there, man. Trust me. How did you know she was the one though? Cause you the world boss, you done been all around.

You know, how did you know she was? That's why I knew she was the one. You know what I mean? She's different. She's, she don't into that hype stuff. You know what I mean? She chill. Nothing is wrong with the girls that are in the hype either.

You know what I mean? It's cool, but she's very humble. You know what I mean? Some even now when I come out, I have to beg her to go shopping. You know, buy some clothes, man. Some wear some Louis, do something. you know what I mean? Even now when I come out, I have to beg her to go shopping. Yo, buy some clothes, man. Wear some Louis, do something. You know what I mean?

And when she goes shopping, she buys stuff for me. Crazy. Yeah. Yeah, man. You are king, man. Big upside down, baby. Is it easy for you to resist the temptation, though? By being at you back on the road and you out in the streets,

I know the women coming after you crazy. Yeah, and I start, I'm gonna lie, I flirt with the ladies, I'm Fais Cartel, come on man. Nobody can get out to see them, only she can get out herself by messing up. Well, no girl on the planet can get her out of my life. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, so she good, man.

The late 90s and early 2000s, dancehall was crazy. Yes. Seems like it slowed down a lot. Why do you think that is? Because I was in prison, sir. Yeah. But now I'm out and we're doing stuff. But you know what?

I wouldn't say it slowed down. I would say that the concept changed, the lyrics changed, to an extent the beat changed, and it just kind of went that way. And then Afrobeat came out, the emergence of reggaeton became huge, you know what I mean? So I think there are a lot of factors that contributed to Dance Soul going through that lull. Yeah, but yeah, we're back again, man, we're doing stuff. And I think this new generation of artists, I like them, man.

What artists do you like? What? Well, Jamal Dunsmann, like Pablo Y. Gee, I mean, chronic loss, Skilly Bang. Skilly Bang, yeah. Yeah, I mean, and you know, Popcorn is like, he's the king of that little generation. So yeah, to me, they're doing stuff. Once they learn to fine tune their music, make it more commercial, more palatable to guys like you, and you know the American, North American market,

they're good, they're good. You know what, because I agree with that, because Spice is dancehall to me. That's who I listen to. Spice is the one, man. Yeah, man, she is. And you notice how she puts her stuff together, like Americans like it, Europeans like it, it's a vibe.

Once they crack that code, they're good, man. What makes a person king of the dance hall? Because that's what they say, they call vibes cartel, king of the dance hall. What qualifies a person for that title? Your dominance, your influence. It's not necessarily selling records, because I haven't sold records like Sean Paul.

But if I walk through the streets of Jamaica and Sean Paul is on the other side of the road, he will go and notice. I mean, no disrespect, there's an influence, that larger than life vibe that we bring. If I say, oh, Clarks, everybody wear Clarks. Put on a tattoo, everybody gets tattooed. You know what I mean, that kind of vibe.

The dominance. And I've been doing that since before I got arrested. I've been people been calling me the king of dance. You know what I mean? Like I say, kings come, kings go. Presidents come, presidents go. Nothing is forever except salvation. So yeah, so I'm not really fighting for the crown because the people gave it to me. Can it be more than one king? No, because people love to say beanie man too. Yeah, of course it can be more than one king. Not in our genre.

It's one. Mm. But it can be more than one, but just not in dance. No, but that's what I'm saying. Remember, who was the king? Who was the king in 1945? King George or something? That nigga dead. And more kings come along.

It's just life, that's what I'm saying. You can't hold onto it forever. You can't gatekeep the crown. It's not yours to gate, it was never yours to gatekeep. You do your time, you move on. A new king is in town, sir, thank you. Now when you were locked up, Versus was big, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Beanie Monty to versus is my favorite We're being amounting. That's my favorite. I was in prison watching Now when you were watching that did you think I would love to do a versus cuz dance was very competitive Yeah, and and if you could yes, who would you want to do? Big up my father too man, but yeah, that would be a crazy versus. Obviously I would win, but he would. He would. Yeah.

Bob took that talk. Yes, he did. Is there anybody catalog you afraid of a little bit? Movado got a big catalog. Movado, Beanie. No, not Beanie or Bounty Killer, those guys. Those are in a different class, remember. You know what I mean? Or Bounty Killer, Beanie. No, not Beanie or Bounty Killer, those guys. Those are in a different class, remember? You know what I mean?

Bounty Killer, Beanie, they're like the 90s to the early 2000s, then Cartel came out. Elephant Man is a nice catalog, but he's not like a warrior artist. You get that? You know what I mean? What's a warrior artist? What's that mean?

Like a Cartel, a Mbado, a Bounty Killer. You know what I mean? A massacre. Ready to go at it right now. Yeah, so, but no, no, no. I think I have the biggest current catalog in dance hall because it's relatively young, it's 23 years. Yeah.

You know what I mean? Lots of hits, especially in the dance hall landscape. You know what I mean? Is that missing in music though? Like the fact that you would, you know, me coming up in Queens and DJing parties, I would come up and then if somebody, let's say you're in a club or Baby Sham's in a club, they would just grab and go at each other. Yes. Wouldn't be physical. No, no. It would be music. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Is that's what's

missing in dance hall? I think so too. I think so too. And one of the reasons why I think so too is because of the internet. So a lot of these young kids, they got their fame from their bedroom. Hey kids, it's me, Smith and it's me Harley Quinn Smith That's my daughter man Who my wife has always said is just a beardless dickless version of me and that's the name of our podcast beardless Let's me I'm the old one. I'm the young one and every week We try to make each other laugh really hard sounds innocent Doesn't it a lot of cussing a lot of bad language. It's for adults only. Or listen to it with your kid.

Could be a family show. We're not quite sure. We're still figuring it out. It's a work in progress. Listen to Beardless, it's me on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you remember what you said

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Malcolm Gladwell here. On this season of Revisionist History, we're going where no podcast has ever gone before. In combination with my three-year-old, we defend the show that everyone else hates. I'm talking, of course, about Paw Patrol. There's some things that really piss me off when it comes to Paw Patrol.

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perfect nooks and crannies, and also, we go after Joe Rogan. Are you ready, Joe? I'm coming for you. You won't want to miss it. Listen to Revisionist History on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In 1978, Roger Caron's first book was published and he was unlike any first-time author Canada had ever seen.

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out of some of the darkest places imaginable. I had a knife go in my stomach, puncture my screen, break my ribs, I had my feps all in my hands. Only to find himself back where he started. Rodger's saying this, I've never hurt anybody but myself. And I said, oh, you're so wrong. You're so wrong on that one, Rob. From Campside Media and iHeart Podcasts, listen to GO BOY on the iHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. ...their bedroom, recorded it in their bedroom, made their YouTube channel, put it out. They can monitor their shit on iTunes and whatever. So they're not, we on the other hand, we had to go in the streets, we had to go to the studio. So it was a more physical thing for us. You know what I mean? In the same way, remember back in the day when records came out, you had to go to the record store?

Now you can just take up your phone and be like, yo, and stream. So that's why I think they don't have that, they don't have the knack for physical confrontation like we did. And by physical, they don't have the knack for physical confrontation like we did. By physical I don't mean like punching, even though sometimes that does happen. But like to just run up on a guy on stage,

nah, they're not gonna do that. I wouldn't think nobody would do that with Jamaicans anyway. But other Jamaicans, like that's what you're speaking. Yeah, cause I would like, you talking shit? When is his next show? We have a show at the Breakfast Club. We go in. Yeah, we run up. So yeah that Have you done that to somebody grab somebody's mic?

No Well, Marvado during me and Marvado. Yeah, he used to run up on me a couple times I run up on him the last time was in Santa Elizabeth. That was crazy Which was then I got the concept to do the doorle Run song. Because I had a Dole Run song before Sting. And then after Sting, then I was like, you know what, because he ran off stage two and he's related to Usain Bolt. You know that, right? I'm joking.

But yeah, but at the time, yeah, it was now in hindsight, I mean, I'm glad we had that feud, man. It made us big and, you know what I mean? It spread down south to places like Africa, which at the time we were like, these guys listen to us? Because you know, they don't showcase that in the media then before the internet where you could just jump on your phone

and see Africa for yourself. Yeah, so I think clashing is good, man. How do y'all get the good terms after clashing? Like the conversation? The first time we had that conversation was when, the first time we had that conversation was the second time the government sent for us in Jamaica because the vibes got them of other things was so big.

School kids, fighting, people getting hurt. So we were just there at King's house, which is where the politicians are. We was like, yo, our music brought us here, bro. This is crazy. And that's when we started talking. And after that, we still feuded, but it was just more like on a controlled level.

Like he would be like, yo, I dropped a song. Why don't you answer it? Like, oh, I didn't hear it. And then I replied to it. And then I would drop a song and he would be like, yo, I dropped a song. Why don't you answer it? Like, oh, I didn't hear it. And then I would reply to it. And then I would drop a song and he would reply. So we kept it like that. And it culminated in us doing the West Kingston show when he called me on stage in West Kingston with Dada's.

Oh, that's smart. So y'all kind of like planned it out. It was strategic. Not in the beginning. That's what I'm saying. After we went to the King's house, where the government was, we was like outside waiting to go in.

And we was just talking like, oh, dude, we'll get the kids, man. Look, you know what I mean? Look where our music is doing. It brought us here. And then we just start like, yo, fuck this, let's plan this. Let's be strategic.

When did you realize the influence that you had? Was it moments like that when you got kids in school fighting, you know, for your music? Like when did you realize I have influence over a whole generation? I mean, I've always realized that, but I never took it as seriously as I should have. Because then I would have made maybe better choices. I don't know. But with that being said, I still have made maybe better choices. I don't know, but with that being said, I still have no regrets. Yeah.

Because my choices led me here. I mean, I've been down some dark roads, but I'm still alive, man. I'm doing extremely well, and God has blessed me. But yeah, I've always realized that I had the influence. I got a question, right? So my wife is Jamaican, right? So I asked her, we have artists, some things.

We look at it differently. So she was like, we have artists, some things, we look at it differently. So she was like, looking back, is there a moment in your career you wish you handled differently at all? Or like you just said, do you have no regrets? Is there anything that you said I should have done differently?

I mean, not really. I mean, let me see. What should I have done differently? When I, I think maybe when I, I don't know, when I hit Ninja Man with the mic on stage. I don't know, but because that's what I'm saying. Everything that I've done, it's still, even if it brought me down,

when I came up, I came up higher. So I don't like that word regret, man. I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. Because if you believe in God, you really got to believe everything happened for a reason. Even if it was just your own poor choice, it still got you closer to God because God got you through.

Yeah, man. That's why I'm saying, nah, nothing. I would do different. With the ninja man thing, maybe I wouldn't have punched him. Maybe I would have just kicked him. I don't know. Jesus Christ, man. Still some injured man.

Now, what's something the public... That's funny though, because he had to get it somehow. Yeah, that's right. Maybe not hit him, just kick him. Don't change history is what I'm saying. You're gonna mess it up for all of us. Don't go back in time and fuck shit up.

Right, yo. Now, what's something the public completely misunderstands about Vyb? I'm a fun guy. I mean, I like to vibe. I like to have fun. Like if you don't know me, especially then, like, and if you approach me wrong, obviously I'm going to react.

But if I'm comfortable around people, we cool, man. We vibing. Yeah. So a lot of people really, they think I'm just this evil person when I'm not. I mean, so yeah, yeah. Now, your lyricism is layered with double meanings and coded language at times. Yes.

How intentional is that? Do you write for interpretation or expression? Both. I mean, music is art, man. So at the end of the day, we're poets, man. All you see we on stage clashing each other, singing those violent lyrics, it's still poetry. So it has to be done artistically.

It has to be done a specific way to get a desired result. Otherwise you're just chatting shit. I mean, you're just talking. Yeah, so we do both. What fuels the creativity now? Cause I know you said when you was locked up, you know, it was just your desire to work and feed your family that fueled it.

What fuels it now? Is it pain? Is it purpose? I mean, purpose. Thank you for that. I never thought of it like that. Purpose, I would say, because God is purpose. God is the ultimate purpose. You know what I mean? So I think purpose pushes me. Like, I still record, even though I don't have to, I still record five, six songs when I'm in the studio, back and back. And still, we in the studio partying, girls are there. We drinking, we smoking, I still knock out five songs, seven songs.

So yeah, yeah. I love this, you know. I do this from the heart, man. And I do it for the culture too. Definitely. One of your biggest records, Romp and Shout. Yes. Did you ever get that cleared?

No. So you never got paid off for that? You just threw it out and it just did what it did? I got paid. Come on, that song is on the map. That song put me on another level globally again because like I said it's levels to it. The same Drake Clarks did it, Summertime did it, Fever did it. You have some songs where you get those songs it's like up another echelon.

Right. You're just going up. So yeah, have some songs, that you get those songs, it's like up another echelon. Right. You're just going up. So yeah, of course, man, that song was crazy. We actually wanted to try to see if we could get it cleared now and do like maybe a 12-year anniversary, 15 year, whatever. But yeah, that song was crazy, but I didn't get it cleared. But in Neo's defense-

He didn't sue you. He couldn't clear it. Like he's, remember the rhythm, you know the thing, go publishing and you made the beat, But in Neo's defense, he couldn't clear it. Remember the rhythm, you know the thing, go publishing and you made the beat, but he's the rapper, but you know what I mean? So people think, oh, why didn't Envy clear the song, but you own the rights to the movie.

Yeah, so yeah. Now also, when you perform, back in the late 90s and early 2000s, there was terms and words that you could say that you could not say anymore or they would try to cancel it. I don't know, the 90s kinda back a little bit, man. You remember the beginning of Rampin' Sharp?

I mean, yeah. Take it right out. Rampin' Sharp, shit. That was explicit. I mean, shit, I don't know, man. Play it for the kids. Dancehall is explicit as hell, though. Very intolerant.

Which I think is changing now still because the world is changing. So you gotta be mindful of what you say. So there's certain songs you don't do because of that or you just. Oh yeah, I won't do. There's certain songs you won't do. I won't do, yeah hell yeah.

I mean come on. That's like saying, oh, slavery was good, let's bring it back. No, we're not. So we're not gonna sing certain sounds. You're not gonna Tasteful yes distasteful. Thank you. And also I'm sure over time you probably seen gal to gal and it looked beautiful together gal to gal He knows the song. He knows the song.

He acts like he didn't know, right? He may know. He acts like he didn't know. Don't got the guy look beautiful together. Yeah, man. I mean, I don't judge and I don't look. I'm engaged, sir. He said you don't look.

He's not engaged, sir. I'm engaged, sir. Yeah, is what I'm saying. So yeah, I focus, man. Another question the wife had is, are you going to marry your fiancé? It's been a while now. That's usually how it works. When?

You usually marry your fiancé. Okay, this is the thing. your fiance it's been a while now that's usually how it works when you usually marry a fiance okay this is the thing I came out July 31st yes did the biggest concert in Jamaica history December 31st got my US visa January 31st yeah so I wanted to get married February 31st it turns out we have a 31st? Yeah, so I wanted to get married February 31st. It turns out, February doesn't have a 31st. You did that on purpose. You knew exactly what you was doing. We're gonna get married. No, because I've been so busy all over the place,

we have to plan it. Okay. Her family is big, mine is big. But, make no mistake, she's right here. I left her, I don't leave her nowhere. She's like my good luck charm. That's how you stay out of trouble. Yeah, exactly, right?

She balances me, she calms me, man. So yeah, she good. How was that big show that you did? In Jamaica? Yeah. Over 35,000 people. Crazy. That show was a sea of people, just as far as I can see. Was it overwhelming for you? No, man, too easy for me.

Like I said, I put in the work and I know I deserve it. So for me, like no nervous, no nothing. We just, you saw why I came out of the pit? Yeah. Because we did that to, it's like, Vibescrattles was in the dungeon. So I'm coming up now out of the pit of hell. That's what the concept for me coming out from under the stage.

And I work for that. I deserve it. Yeah. Thank you, God. Thank you, Jesus. Let me ask you a question about Jamaican culture. It seems like bleaching your skin is becoming more popular now. Like, what is the fascination with that in Jamaica? I mean, I think it has to do with, you know, the usual issues, self-hate, the history of colonialism, colorism, it's all that. You know what I mean? And like, I was speaking to, I don't remember who I was speaking to, because even in like places like Asia, skin bleaching is a big thing too. And it has to

do with that Stockholm syndrome, Because if you think about it, who in Asia bleaches the most? It's the South Koreans and the Japanese, the Americanized, kind of European. They want that Eurocentric look, is what I'm saying. And black people have always had that problem. I would never bleach again personally. Because I'm mature enough to know that, yo, fuck that. But I definitely think it has to do with self-hate or lack of self-confidence as a race. Because when I was bleaching, I literally looked in the mirror and I thought I looked better being light skinned. You know what I mean? So it took a time for me to, like, nah man, fuck that. Yeah.

So it was a cosmetic thing when you did it? Yes. OK, OK. Definitely. But I would never do that again, man. And I'm glad, I'm very, very glad to hear that. But even though I love hip hop spice, spice, she, it was a mess. It was a bigger message that she was trying to convey

and it was exactly what you were saying. She's like, man, this is different in America than it is back where I'm from. Like, you don't get certain things if you're not a fairer skin, you know? And people here, because Love and Hip Hop is American, people was looking at Spice like, what the hell? Like, why would you, you know?

Your black skin is beautiful always, you know what I mean? So, but now I totally do get what you're saying. It's totally different. Yeah, it's a cultural thing. Trust me, man. Because we only have blacks in Jamaica. So for us, it's not racism, it's colorism. Like the lighter skin you are, it's like you climb social.

It's crazy work. Was it a woman? Was it a woman that encouraged you to do it? Oh no, it's just a bunch of us. You know what I mean? Just 90% of Jamaica at one point was reaching. Yeah. You know what I mean? So.

Did you have any effects after that? Like long-term, because you were doing it for a while. Yeah. Oh no long-term effects. Just some fucking pictures that I don't want to look at anymore got you they used to say i was bleaching and they would always send me pictures of you and have me side by side with you yeah you was bleaching no you wasn't no he was just ugly and then he was cute after a while no no he had a whole new face it ain't like this is a tough room this is a tough room No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, I moved the polyps. I didn't touch my nose. My nose is the same. Okay, okay. You called you Mike Hogan. Mike Hogan.

Now do you still get nervous when you perform? What's nervous? Where is it sold? How does it taste? Is it contagious? We don't do nervous. I know that's right. We don't do that.

No, like I said. And plus like I said, I was raised in a family of people that love music. My uncles used to try to be DJs. Not DJs like me, DJs, Jamaican rapper. So I grew up always wanting to get the microphone. You know what I mean? I grew up wanting to go on stage.

Yeah, so as it relates to music, no nervousness. I'd be more nervous like going in the bank or something or walking through the airport. You know what I mean? But no, no, no, no, no, no. That's too easy. Music? Not at all. How was Jamaica for you?

Is Jamaica a safe space for Bob's Cartel? Of course, not. I hate way too much. Do you stay there primarily or? I live here, sir. Okay, okay, okay. I live in Florida. Got you, got you, got you, got you.

I mean, I did 13 years in prison. Why would I, come on? But I wrecked my country right through. I wrecked my culture all the way every day. One yard man, bum buckler. Can I say that? Yeah. Is it the government or the people that makes you be like,

okay, let me stay, let me keep my distance from- No, I just wanna, like, I spent 13 years, like seriously, that's not a joke. Like I need to go out now. Got you, got you. And I'm working, man. Yeah. Yeah, and Florida is good because it's a hub.

You can come to New York, you can just go across the Atlantic, you're in England, you go west, you're in LA. You know what I mean? So it's just a nice place to be geographically, where I can just move. Do you like to go back to those areas You know what I mean? So it's just a nice place to be geographically, where I can just move. Do you like to go back to those areas that you grew up on,

like drive through Brooklyn? Never, never. Oh, in America, I thought you meant in Jamaica. Why would I work so hard to leave? No, go back. Never, never. No, no, I'm not going back. No, sir.

But like in Brooklyn? I mean like areas in Brooklyn. And Brown, you used to hang out in White Plains Road back in the day, 227, 225. Yes, do you go back there? No, sir. No. I don't go there either. Don't go there either. You know what I mean?

But seriously, why I'm just staying out of trouble. I love that. I don't want to be involved in nothing negative. Never. So we stay away from that. I love it. Yeah. Has you, Mr. Palmer, ever become a prisoner of Vibes Cartel?

Like how do you remind yourself? All the time. Okay. All the time, man. All the time, and time man all the time and it's crazy like it's it's conflicting but it's whatever man vibes cartel is why i'm i have the things that i have and i can take care of my family so i work with it sacrifice you know i mean but sometimes some days i wish I could just walk, man,

just walk with my grandchildren on the road and just go buy some ice cream and chili. Can't do that. It's crazy. So what keeps you grounded? What keeps you reminding yourself of who you are and not the character of the Vibes Cartel? I used to buy into the character of Vibes Cartel.

Because we grew up rough. We grew up in Portmore. So we grew up tough 2.0. But now I just what keeps me grounded in family. Like I said, my kids, my grandkids. Yeah. The new lease that God has given me on life. That's what keeps me grounded. And I ain't messing that up for nobody.

Well, the album is streaming right now, new album. You wanna hear something off the new album? No, I did the album, sir. What I wanna have? The people wanna hear something. I did the album. We gonna play something. The people wanna hear something.

I wanna hear it right now. I'm gonna request it. Can I make a request, though? Man, you need to do a comedy movie. Yes, right? We need a good Jamaican comedy mask. Yes, absolutely. Okay?

We already did the Jamaican gangbangs, shoot them up. We need a Jamaicanican comedy, man. We ought to get a Jamaican gang bang, shoot them up. We need a Jamaican comedy, gang man. Or a horror film. I always thought about that. There's no Jamaican horror film, even though as African descendants, we have a lot of, we call them Duppy stories. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. The ghost stories. The ghost stories, yeah.

We don't, I think we need to capitalize on that more, but yeah. You believe in W's? Ah, I was gonna say something very disrespectful about it. Let's hear it. No, I don't. I don't believe in W's. You don't believe in ghosts? Come on. He was definitely gonna say another artist was a W, but I know him. I know he was. I know you was. I know you was.

Yeah, but yeah, of course. I mean, of course. The spirit is the spirit. Remember, you have good spirits, you have bad spirits. You know what I mean? There's good spirits right now. That's right. What about mermaids?

Did y'all ever see mermaids? Mermaids. Because I always hear the stories. What? No, for real. Of course. That's the things I'm talking about. In Jamaica, we call them river maids,

because we have a lot of rivers in Jamaica. Gotcha. Yeah, so stories call them river maids, because we have a lot of rivers in Jamaica. Gotcha. Yeah, so stories that the river maids would put the golden table up, and people would see it and dive in, and then they would pull you down in the water. Yeah, we grew up on all those stories. Rolling calves, that's the spirit of butchers.

No. Yeah, at night with the cow chain, and it's crazy, man. Like the Jamaican Texas chainsaw master. Yeah, stuff like that. Exactly. Damn. Without the Texas.

Right, right. Oh yeah. And without the chainsaw, it's low budget. I mean, the ox saw. The ox saw, man. Have you seen a River Maid before? Have you seen a River Maid before? No, but I've seen lots of the piece, Ghost.

Like real, yeah, no joke. You know what I mean? So yeah, I've been. Wow. It's not about belief. You know,, yeah, no joke. You know what I mean? So yeah, I'd be. It's not about belief. You know, you know, you know. You know what I mean? You couldn't have God if the, you believe in God, you have to accept

that the devil is exist. That's right. That's right. That's right. You know what I mean? So yeah, yeah, yeah. So you got plans to write any films, anything like that? Yes, definitely. I'd love to do a film about my life.

I mean, not just, not my entire life, there's maybe like the prison part. Yeah. After I die, someone else can do the full life shit. I have no time for that. I'm living the life now. Yeah. Yeah, my kids cannot do that when I'm gone.

Mm-hmm. You know what I mean? So yeah, but definitely movies, man. I love entertainment. I love movies. You got a sense of humor. You're very fun. Definitely a vibe. There you go. I'm going to try this again, vibes. What song do you want to hear for the people? I want to hear Porn Flick. I want to see the diss track. I just said that. We're doing it. It's the vibe. Yes, like that.

Well, let's get into porn flicks right now. This weekend, you should have your tickets already. If not, it's sold out. You're gonna have to go to StubHub and pay grands and grands and grands for it. But definitely check them out, and we appreciate you for joining us, man. Anytime, brother, pull up.

Yeah, man, big up Charlamagne. Big up DJ Envy. Big up Jess! Yes. Yes. Where's Angela? She got her own show. Oh, she does? She come on after us.

Yeah. Okay, I don't know. She probably, she should be here. Yeah, she is. Yeah, she is. Okay, okay. Big up Angela here. Mm-hmm.

That's right. Don't know. God is the greatest. That's right. And we out. It's the Breakfast Club. it's Vibe's Cartel, yeah. Wake that ass up. Early in the morning. The Breakfast Club. Hey kids, it's me, Kevin Smith. And it's me, Harley Quinn Smith.

That's my daughter, man, who my wife has always said is just a beardless, d***less version of me. And that's the name of our podcast, Beardless, D***less Me. I'm the old one. I'm the young one. And every week we try to make each other laugh really hard. Sounds innocent, doesn't it?

A lot of cussing, a lot of bad language. It's for adults only. Or listen to it with your kid. Could be a family show. We're not quite sure. We're still figuring it out. It's a work in progress. Listen to Beardless **** with Me on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever.

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