AUDIO: Vybz Kartel x Federation Sound, “Portmore Scheme”

Words by Max Glazer—

This is probably my single favorite thing I have ever had the pleasure of working on with Adidja Palmer, professionally known as Vybz Kartel. It’s not the most polished recording, in fact you will probably notice some digital distortion, but it certainly has the vibe. This may even be my all time favorite recording of the man known, at various times in his career, as Adi Banton, Adi Di Teacha, Vybz Kartel and now Worl’ Boss.

What started out as an acapella interlude turned into a classic as Cassette Jones began banging out a beat on the recording desk of his Portmore studio. This one minute and twenty second track captures everything that I love about the music of Adidja “Vybz Kartel” Palmer. It is simple and effective, yet brilliant and complex at the same time. Listening to it now, I still get the same feeling I did so many years ago when Adi, Jones and I sat in that room recording it. I hope you enjoy it as well.