Vybz Kartel Adopts “Fully Melanated” Life, Promises To Never Bleach Again

Vybz Kartel reflected on a controversial decision to alter his appearance. While on with Hot 97, Wednesday (April 9), the 49-year-old opened up first about his decision to bleach his skin and then on why he wouldn’t do it again.

“I’m fully melanated,” interjected the World Boss when asked about his transformations.

“I mean, in hindsight… it definitely had to do with self-love. But on the other hand, while I was doing it, my mind wasn’t telling me that. My mind was telling me, ‘I am doing this to show my tattoos.’ I’ve got a lot of tattoos. But looking back, it was just as a Black man, sometimes we have those issues, but I would never bleach again though.”

He continued to elaborate, “As Black people, we all have that issue, complexionism and colorism.”

The “Fever” performer, real name Adidja Palmer, had a murder conviction overturned last year and was subsequently released from prison. Earlier this year, he attended the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles as a first-time nominee for Best Reggae Album.

Earlier this week, the Crazy” collaborative effort, which placed the Jamaican musician alongside Busta Rhymes and Akon, was released via the Brooklyn rapper.

“Kartel, Akon, and myself spoke,” Busta Rhymes elaborated. “We all collectively felt that the excitement around this time frame warranted the release of this video,” which was shot in Miami on March 9th, which is also the anniversary of the passing of Biggie Smalls, who was Busta’s high school classmate before they both became hip hop icons.

Check out the track below.