Vybz Kartel Mural Featured In Cyberpunk 2077
From slangs to streetwear, Vybz Kartel has been immortalized in many ways throughout his career, and the ‘dancehall hero’ is now enshrined in the exciting world of gamers.
A mural of one of di Teacha’s most iconic portraits has been featured in the 2020 release of Cyberpunk 2077, one of the year’s most highly anticipated video games. The action-adventure, role-playing game is set in a dystopian future and also features The Matrix trilogy superstar, Keanu Reeves.
Cyberpunk has been trending for days, and Kartel’s likeness will no doubt lend itself to expanding his enormous fanbase. The famous image of Kartel was shot by photographer Ports Bishop back in 2011 for a New York Times write-up, a piece ironically about Kartel’s global influence in spite of being denied a US Visa.
According to the article, “when asked how he maintains his international notoriety while rarely leaving Jamaica, Vybz Kartel laughed and said, with his usual braggadocio, “We work with what we have, and we make miracles like Jesus.”
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He’s had many more impressive feats since then, (such as three albums in a one-year span) and this isn’t the Worl’ Boss’ only inclusion in virtual reality either. His songs can also be found on Grand Theft Auto V (“We Never Fear Them“), DJ Hero 2 (“Pon De Floor“), and shooter series, Saints Row 2 (“Picture This“).
Given the massive impact behind his name, it’s ironic that Kartel recently claimed he didn’t even know what a PS5 was: “When mi hear bout PS5 mi tink it was a car”, he joked on Instagram.
Whether or not he was kidding, it’s clear the man with the 20-year reign in dancehall doesn’t play about his work ethic. The Loodi deejay added in his caption, “Couldn’t believe grown man a kill up demself ova game ‘fore dem go build some wealth. F—n waste man dem.”
Rival deejay Alkaline used the Ports Bishop image to shade Kartel in the music video for Cree, which was released on August 20.
Another image from the shoot was used for Kartel’s Kingston Story album cover in 2011.
Cyberpunk 2077 was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Stadia, and Xbox One on 10 December 2020 and will be released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2021.