Jamaican Dance Hall Artist Sentenced To Life In Prison

 Vybz Katel popular dancehall artist in Jamaica, has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted for the murder of an associate, according to reports by the BBC.

Palmer and three other men were sentenced after being convicted of the 2011 murder of Clive "Lizard" Williams in a dispute over missing firearms. The 65-day trial was the longest in Jamaican history and riveted the country with gory details. Among them was a text message reportedly sent from Palmer's phone that said in details that Williams’ body was chopped into so many pieces that it would never be recovered.

The 38-year-old singer, born Adidja Palmer, is one of the biggest stars in Jamaican music. American audiences know him from his vocals on Major Lazer's club hit "Pon De Floor," which Beyoncé sampled for "Run the World (Girls)."

Palmer had previously been arrested in 2011 on drug charges, and continued to record music inside his cell. A second murder charge against him had been dropped for lack of evidence.

Kartel was under recent controversy by releasing a song called “Guns Like Mine” that contained lyrics describing the killing of gays“Kartel buss one inna b... bwoy spine" were the lyrics. He recently apologized and removed the lyrics from his track.

“I decided not to deejay any more songs about the killing of gays. It's just something that we [deejays] have to do. We are living in a tolerant society and we have to get with the times otherwise we won't be up to the time. But we reserve the right to criticize anyone. That lifestyle is not wholesome to my lifestyle, you understand?”

Kartel has been the subject of other controversial acts such as whitening his skin, various other murder charges, and obscene lyrics that has been banned from airwaves. Controversy has followed him all the way to his life-term prison sentence.

 

The 5 Black Gay celebrities You Never Knew Off

You probably never expected to know that one of your loved and cherished celebrities in the world is a gay, but don't be quick to judge them on what they see to be right because if he or she makes you happy but never impose their believe on you then why judge them. Now look below and see if your best star is one of these five gay celebrities.

RuPaul Andrew Charles

  Best known as simply RuPaul, is an American singer-songwriter, actor, drag queen, model and author, who first gained fame in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films and musical albums. He was born RuPaul Andrew Charles, his song “supermodel” was a huge hit in the 90s as was his beauty. He currently hosts reality television shows called RuPaul Drag and RuPaul Drag U.


Lee Daniels

Began his career as a casting director working on projects such as 'Purple Rain.' He went on to become the first sole black producer of an Academy Award-earning film, 'Monster's Ball.' Daniels went onto direct the Academy Award-winning 'Precious.' He identifies as gay and has two children.

Emil Wilbekin

 

 

 

We can not take him out when it comes to the list of powerful gay celebrities of color, would be complete without an entry from the fashion world, and it is here that Essence.com Managing Editor and Marc Ecko VP Emil Wilbekin makes his appearance.  Emil also spent a dozen years at Vibe Magazine, five of them as Editor-In-Chief.  He recently co-chaired the GLAAD Media Awards in NYC, honoring excellence in the media portrayal of the LGBT community.  Emil is an ardent supporter of LGBT issues and goals, and his eloquent pen steers a course of style and culture that won’t soon be forgotten.