Former Portmore Empire Artists React To Vybz Kartel’s Prison Release

Several members of Vybz Kartel’s once-formidable Gaza/Portmore Empire are among those airing their thoughts on his release from a Kingston prison on Wednesday. 

Vybz Kartel’s once-formidable Portmore/Gaza Empire.

The disbanded clique’s most successful member, Popcaan, reposted an article about the acquittal on his Instagram page. 

“13 Years a fight and win that Bombocl**t!!” the ‘Unruly Boss’ captioned. “International World Boss Day! 🍾 🙏🏿 Yuh know now👊🏿.”

Popcaan also showed love to Kartel’s first video since being freed, a quick clip of him in a limo flossing liquor and loving on Turkish fiancée Sidem Ozturk. 

“Roast vain 😂😂,” he commented, to which Addi responded, “@popcaanmusic 😂😂 boil brain.”

The deejay then reposted the video, adding the caption “@vybzkartel outside pan them!”

Real Stinga singjay Blak Ryno opted for fewer words, posting a photo of Kartel on his feed with the sentiment “One go!”

His relationship history with Kartel has been publicly tainted since he decided to leave the Gaza camp more than a decade ago. Still, Ryno insists the matter was overblown, and said he still has love for the man who brought him to the fore. 

In a post and delete, Lisa Hyper expressed her excitement in an Instagram Story which may have been removed for its disregard for Kartel’s current relationship. 

“Unu dutty bloodcl**t unu,” she started. “Look at God. @vybzkarel mi ready fi mi baby dem now.”

Last year, the Stress Who artist dished on the complex dynamic of their relationship by referencing the leaked explicit photo that has haunted her career for more than a decade.

According to Hyper, they first became intimate when she was 17, and their longstanding closeness would later cause friction with his former spouse Tanesha ‘Shorty’ Johnson.

Though the deejay said she was scarred by Kartel’s actions, she gave her approval of Ozturk and wished him well. 

Kartel and Sidem Oztürk

Gaza Sheba perhaps oozed the most enthusiasm, sharing multiple posts after waking up to the news of his release. “Look weh mi just wake up fi hear!!!” she wrote in a Story. “The boss bumbocl**t outside!!!!

She continued with a timeline post, “The BBC BOSS DEH OUTSIDE!!!🥳🥳🥳🤸🏽‍♀️🤸🏽‍♀️🤸🏽‍♀️💃💃💃💃 Mi heart an body cyaa keep calm!!!😁😁🙌🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥MI LAUGH!🤣 MI BAWL!😭 MI JUMP! MI ROLL! Mi nuh know weh fi do to how mi cyaa keep calm!!😂😂😂tell unnu bout #timeandgod 😎🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽.”

Sheba also did the uncommon, sending love to the other co-accused –  Shawn ‘Storm’ Campbell, Andre St. John and Kahira Jones – who did time with the Any Weather artist. Jones is still in custody for an unrelated case.

“Mi outside somewhere! Some place tonight! Coz celebration affi gwaan!! After years of manifesting this moment, its finally here! Time & God. Big up Shawn Storm, Mad Suss & Kahira sed way!!! Long time e man dem fi free.”

On that note, Shawn Storm also had words for his former co-inmate’s release. 

“Uptoditime mi g,” he commented under Kartel’s post. “FREEDOM mi g. Glory to God.”

Vybz Kartel and Shawn Storm during their trial

Blade Merital from the Merital Family also sent kind regards to his former principal in some throwback photo posts. 

“FROM A TALLER TIME @vybzkartel OUTA ROAD #portmoreempire #gaza #freeworldboss.”

Sikka Rymes, who joined the unit later on as the vice president, made subtle posts toasting to the deejay’s freedom. Rymes, himself, was recently released from a UK prison. 

Other names once associated with the group were mum about the news on Wednesday, notably Vanessa Bling (formerly Gaza Slim), Jah Vinci, NotNice, Gaza Kim, Gaza Indu and Deva Bratt. 

Portmore Empire

The clique had dancehall in a chokehold in the 2010s, eventually fading away with claims of an abusive work environment and disloyalty among members. Of note was Gaza Kim who left the collective in 2010 after an alleged beating by his cronies.

In an interview earlier this year, the Teenage Pregnancy artist said she was indifferent about his possible release and only wished that he be a “new man” after spending 13 years behind bars. 

Producer NotNice also has an unpleasant story about exiting from the camp, claiming Kartel made thugs invade his property and steal his equipment.

He previously recalled the rough period that ensued, from living in a small studio with his son, to running a failed exotic nightclub in St. Mary.