DJ Akademics is at it again with his controversial takes. This time his focus is on Jamaica music and who is the greatest artist of all time.
He says Vybz Kartel’s influence on culture is more than the Beatles, Elvis, Jay-Z and Bob Marley while substantiating that “Vybz Kartel is my favorite artist ever.”
The Spanish Town native turned American Hip Hop commentator made the comments during an appearance on Million Dollars Worth Of Game podcast with Wallo and Gillie Da Kid.
“My favorite artist of all time is a Jamaican artist, I think he is the best artist, there is no other artist on Earth that even comes within a centimeter of him and its Vybz Kartel,” he said.
He further explained, “he is currently incarcerated for murder or whatever but when it comes to living your craft, also being the best at everything.”
The 29 year old continued,
“He is the best dude with melodies, best dude with bars or lyrics or whatever. He was always somebody who pushed the culture forward.”
Akademics rose to fame in the hip hop world after reporting on the Chicago Drill scene. He then became a Music and culture commentator, Twitch streamer, then a co-host of Complex Magazine’s Everyday Struggle with rapper turned podcaster Joe Budden, Nadeska Alexis and Wayno.
“The culture to this day, he is in prison and still put out music, still lives on his(Vybz Kartel) back,”
he opined.
He then shocked the hosts Gillie and Walla when he said,
“The greatest artist, I have never seen any artist have more influence on a genre… I don’t care if you could say Bob Marley, Elvis, Beatles. “
It was at this point that Wallo responded “He is stronger than Bob?” then Gillie chimed in with “man get the f*ck outa here…get your lying ass outa here bwoy”
The professional disruptor then clarified, “Bob Marley’s influence is worldwide but Bob Marley don’t talk to those youths in the garrison, Bob Marley don’t talk to the ghetto people.”
“Whatever influence y’all think Jay-Z had on hip hop he ain’t had what Kartel had on dancehall. It’s Tupacesque level”, he continued.
Bob Marley was a Rastafarian, who rose up from the slums of trench Town Jamaica. His music and culture is a key element in the development of reggae music across the world. He is one of the most recognizable faces globally and his message of universal love has had great influence on nations of people in every part of the world.
He has been awarded and honored during his life and posthumously for his contribution to music and cultural development.
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A Waxwork of Marley resides in Madame Tussauds, London
- In 1976: Rolling Stone named bob Marley and the Wailers Band of the Year
- In 1978 he was awarded the Peace Medal of the Third World from the United Nations.
- In February 1981 he was warded the Jamaican Order of Merit, then the nation’s third highest honour.
- In March 1994 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- In 1999 Time magazine named the album “Exodus”, Album of the Century.
- In February 2001 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- In February 2001 The Recording Academy Awarded him with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
- In 2004 The Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him No. 11 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
- In 2004 he was among the first inductees into the UK Music Hall of Fame and the BBC named “One Love” named song of the millennium.
- In 2010 the album Catch a Fire was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (Reggae Album).
His album “Legend”, first released in 1984 is spending 13 years on the Billboard 200 albums chart and is one of the most successful releases of all time. He is considered a hero among many Jamaicans as well as Barbadian Nation Hero Rihanna.
In 2014, Kartel was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his associate Clive “Lizard” Williams. He will be eligible for parole once he has served a minimum of 35 years in prison. Although he is imprisoned, Kartel continues to release new music, with over 5 albums since his incarceration and his hit song “Fever” was certified Gold in June 2020.
A non-scientific poll by 18 Karate Reggae found that Vybz Kartel led Bob Marley by 3 points, 46 percent to 43 percent among Jamaicans who consider themselves fans of dancehall and reggae music. The poll was conducted online with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.
