Bobby Shmurda Says ‘Free Vybz Kartel!’
Brooklyn rapper Bobby Shmurda joined the hoard of GAZA fans in the crusade to exonerate the incarcerated Worl’ Boss when he declared “free Vybz Kartel” at the start of a recent interview on Earport’s Auto Pilot Podcast.
On the November 14 episode, Shmurda sat with the host Pvnch to discuss a few topics including why his new music has not been coming out as fast as the fans would like and also about his new single, Shmoney with Quavo and Rowdy Rebel.
However, in the first few minutes of the interview, Pvnch seemingly wanted Bobby to defend his much-talked about dancing by bringing up the rapper’s Jamaican and Saint Vincent roots.
“Dancing is a wave. The thing is like this, a Mid West, even a West Coast n–ga they didn’t grow [up] … its not heavy Caribbean in those areas, they don’t get it,” Pvnch offered, to explain why dancing for Shmurda comes so natural.
Bobby responded, “When I was young, I couldn’t go no party if they not playing Reggae,” which led the host to ask Shmurda who he listens to in the genre.
“Everybody, from Supa Cat, Beenie Man…” he began, before they both also acknowledged Buju Banton and Sanchez.
“Free Vybz Kartel! F–k y’all talking bout,” he then shouted, while pointing to the camera.
Bobby, who served time in jail before being released last February, said he wants to drop a tune with the Worl’ Boss, and expressed hope that he could do so soon since the Fever deejay is—allegedly—still producing music while in jail.
Shmurda rose to fame with his debut Hot N*gga and its accompanying viral Shmoney Dance in 2014. The hit spawned many unofficial remixes by US rappers as well as a reggae version featuring Junior Reid, Mavado, Popcaan, and Jah X. Dancing aficionado Elephant Man also hopped on the viral hit with his track Shmoney Dance and a music video featuring the then 22-year-old rap sensation.
In October 2021, Bobby collaborated with Dancehall star Skillibeng on a Crocodile Teeth remix. In July, he was spotted in the studio with Kartel’s rival, Alkaline.
Meanwhile, Vybz Kartel, though in jail since 2011, has kept up with a steady string of singles and albums, and was the most-streamed artist on YouTube in Jamaica in 2020. His latest tracks, Certified Money Bag, Everybody Bad Till, Do It If Yuh Bad, and Right Now with his son Likkle Addi were all released this month alone.
The GAZA boss was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his associate Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams and will be eligible for parole sometime in 2046. In April 2020, the Jamaica Court of Appeal largely denied an appeal from Kartel’s legal team but cut down his parole serving-time by two and half years, due to a mistake made during sentencing.
Kartel’s case is to be heard by the UK’s Privy Council, Jamaica’s final Court of Appeal, in 2022. However, a prosecution witness in the Clansman-One Don gang trial recently accused the reputed King of Dancehall of ordering hits from prison on three people, including on a fellow entertainer.
Earlier this month, the Jamaica Gleaner reported that the bombshell testimony has again placed Kartel on law enforcement radar, according to a senior police source.