Dancehall artist Vybz Kartel may have been behind bars for 13 years, but the artist has kept up to date with developments in the music industry, including the recent beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

The beef between the two artists has ignited much discussion about who the more prominent artist is, as both Drake and K.Dot fanbases jostled for the best titles to bestow on their favorite rapper.

A senior in the music industry and an icon, even Drake, has tipped his hat very early in his career. Vybz Kartel has added his voice to the debate, and he’s validating the Canadian rapper as the best of the two.

In a new feature by Billboard, Vybz Kartel speaks for the first time after the successful production of his homecoming show, Freedom Street. The artist was released late last year following the overturning of the murder conviction that imposed a 35 years to life imprisonment sentence for the killing of one of his associates- Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

Billboard describes Vybz Kartel as the “most influential Jamaican artist” since Bob Marley. His status is undeniable, and his opinion carries much weight in music circles locally and internationally. In the interview, Kartel clarified that he was Team Drizzy and even espoused that he’s not a K. Dot fan, even going further to say he doesn’t “even listen to Kendrick, so I wouldn’t know.”

Maybe he was being facetious or provocative, but the Jamaican artist who recorded 1.5 billion streams in 2024 questioned Kendrick Lamar’s music while lauding Drake, a known lover of Jamaican music and culture.

“What does [Kendrick] rap…I saw it on the internet, but no disrespect to the dude. I hear him, but I don’t listen to him. Drake is more in tune with Jamaica and the culture.”

As for the title of best rapper, “Drake is a better and bigger artist,” Kartel is quoted as saying.

Kartel, who also said Lil Wayne is his favourite rapper, may have his opinion, and fans have theirs. Many believe that Drake’s “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle” stood no chance against Kendrick’s “Euphoria” and “Not Like Us.”

The beef ended eventually, but it seems that Drake is challenging the legitimacy of “Not Like Us,” which recorded massive streaming numbers and topped several Billboard charts worldwide. He is currently suing Universal (which he is also signed to), alleging that the label promoted the song, leading to artificial inflation of numbers, not organic streaming figures.

As for Vybz Kartel his lucky streak continues with a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album for his EP Party With Me.