Kartel has claim to most influential DJ title, says lecturer

Kam‑au Amen, a lecturer in the Entertainment and Cultural Enterprise Management unit at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, has argued that Vybz Kartel could be considered the most influential deejay in dancehall history.

“When you talk about Vybz Kartel being the greatest artiste, well, if you want to qualify it by saying within dancehall then you have a case,” Amen said in response to music producer Cordel “Skatta” Burrell’s comments on Entertainment Report.

Burrell agreed, stating that Kartel’s claim to be the most influential deejay is “100 per cent right because to influence two to three decades of people is not an easy task.” He added that Kartel’s ability to produce hits while incarcerated demonstrates a level of influence that few artists have achieved.

Burrell also suggested that Kartel’s story could eventually eclipse that of Bob Marley, noting that Marley’s legacy was largely preserved by his family after his death in 1981. “Vybz Kartel story alone is gonna be bigger than Bob Marley,” Burrell said, citing Kartel’s independence and continued output since his release.

Amen cautioned that comparing the two artists is difficult because they operate in different genres and eras. “Bob operated in a different genre and era of Jamaican music… they’re two artistes operating at two different periods, in two different genres of Jamaican music,” he explained.

Despite the differences, both Amen and Burrell believe Kartel’s legacy is still evolving. Amen noted that while Marley’s legacy was handed to his wife and family, Kartel is still alive and could potentially expand his influence into new realms, possibly surpassing Marley’s achievements in the future if he changes his political stance and public impact.

These remarks highlight ongoing discussions within Jamaica’s music community about the lasting impact of contemporary artists compared to historical icons.

Article source: jamaica-star.com | Image credit: X