Spanish Town native turned American Hip-Hop commentator DJ Akademiks is at it again with his divisive opinions saying that Vybz Kartel’s influence on Dancehall is greater than that of Bob Marley, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Jay-Z in their respective genres.
On Sunday, Akademiks recently shared his thoughts and told hosts Gillie Da King and Wallo267 on the Million Dollars Worth Of Game podcast that his favorite artist of all time is Vybz Kartel and believes he is the best artist because no other artist on Earth comes close to him.
He went on to say that while he is currently incarcerated for murder, he is the best at everything when it comes to living his craft. He’s the best when it comes to melodies, bars, lyrics, and whatever else. He was always someone who tried to advance the culture. Vybz Kartel’s culture lives on even though he is in prison and continues to release music.
Livingston Allen, aka Akademiks, rose to prominence in the hip-hop world after reporting on the Chicago Drill scene. He went on to become a music and culture commentator, as well as a Twitch streamer and co-host of Complex Magazine’s Everyday Struggle.
During the podcast, the 30-year-old stunned hosts Gillie and Walla by declaring that the greatest artist he has ever seen has had more influence on a genre, and he doesn’t care if someone says Bob Marley, Elvis Presley, or the Beatles.
Bob Marley is a Rastafarian who rose from the slums of Trench Town, Jamaica and died at the age of 36 which is exactly 40 years ago. He is regarded as one of the world’s greatest and most influential musicians, and his music played an important role in the global development of reggae music.
For his style, delivery, and lyrical content, Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, is regarded as one of the most influential Dancehall artists. In the early 2010s, as his influence grew, so did the controversies. For the murder of his associate Clive “Lizard” Williams, he was sentenced to life in prison in 2014. After serving a minimum of 32 years in prison, he will be eligible for parole. Kartel has released over 5 albums since his incarceration in 2011, despite the fact that he is in prison.
In February 2020, his hit song Fever was certified Gold.