Vybz Kartel is quietly rebuilding Portmore Empire with a slew of new female artists.
Vybz Kartel is making some major moves in the music industry from behind bars. You can recall back in 2012 when he announced the disbandment of Portmore Empire, a group he co-founded and lead in the mid-2000s. The group gave rise to artists like Tommy Lee Sparta, Popcaan, Jah Vinci, and Vanessa Bling, all of whom are now a household name in dancehall.
Sources involved with the handling of Vybz Kartel affairs exclusively told Urban Islandz that he is rebuilding his label under a new name, Vybz Kartel Muzik, and so far he has signed a handful of female artists.
“It’s not that he is rebuilding Portmore Empire, that’s history, the new focus is a new label with new artists, new focus, and new energy,” sources said. “Vybz Kartel Muzik is the label that will house everything. Things will be more official now than before, so any artist you see we pushing are signed to the label, and we are working with acts like Ili Sanchea and Lolaa Smiles.”
We’re told that new artists like rising British rapper Ili Sanchea and Kartel’s cousin Sikka Rhymes are already signed to the label with more artists to come. Sources told us that the incarcerated deejay is laying the groundwork for when he is released from prison.
Vybz Kartel is now awaiting the verdict in his appeal case. The decision is not expected to be announced until sometime next year. The dancehall star is currently serving life for murder but is banking on his appeal as he continues to fight for freedom. His new album, Exiled Pharoah, is due sometime soon. It’s not yet clear if any of his new artists will be featured on the project. We also know that TJ Records is the executive producer behind the project.
