Nesbeth Speaks On Whether He Fell Off After Allegedly Dissing Vybz Kartel
Reggae singer Nesbeth recently cleared the air about allegations that he had ‘taken a shot’ at Vybz Kartel after he lost to the Fever deejay at the Youth View Awards five years ago.
The My Dream singer was responding to a question from a fan (@YardVibezTV) during a Live Q&A session. The question was: “Do you believe your career fell a little after taking shots at Vybz Kartel?”
Nesbeth jumped at the opportunity to declare that what happened in 2017, was a mere misunderstanding at the local entertainment awards show.
“I went to an award ceremony, it was called Youth View Awards at the time, from my knowledge they changed their name now. So, myself and Vybz Kartel were in a category. I think it was for new song. Now, they gave Vybz Kartel the award. But, at the time, I think it was his song named Fever,” the Success Story singer began.
“That’s a big song, and yuh cyaa deny that, and Vybz Kartel is a lyricist. Vybz Kartel is an artist weh, if you’re an artist and you don’t respect Vybz Kartel, it means you have something personal against him. I just said that to say this; I respect the artist. I respect his body of work. Not to say I am the person weh jump fi every song weh him sing, cause dem murder murder song deh a nuh my style. But him sing song bout madda and him sing uplifting song…So, what happen is that, I walked out of the award when they said it was Vybz Kartel.”
According to Nesbeth, that move may have been the rope that many, including conceptualizers of the awards ceremony, used to try to hang him.
“So when I walked out of the ceremony, I remember doing a video and I said, “Youth View Award, I thought you were representing the youths.”
“I’ve been all over the world and hear people seh dem deh pon dem last and it’s because of my song My Dream, dem rise to the occasion. So I’m saying, that time, the country was at its worst. And mothers and fathers were complaining about their kids, so I’m saying how could Youth View Award not give the award to myself because of the song that I sung. It was My Dream; highly motivational, it was a Prime Minister pick, it was pick from all over the world. So because of that, I walked out and I said, Youth View, I thought you were for the kids,” he continued.
Later that year, Nesbethreleased a single titled New Gangster, which many speculated to have been a subtle jab at the incarcerated deejay. The line, which went “look on your favourite hero/who nuh lock up play zero” was interpreted as a another “diss” by members of the Gaza Nation.
However, Nesbeth has denied ever picking a fight with Kartel.
“I did not say anything about Vybz Kartel. So Youth View now put the narrative forward seh oh, Nesbeth neva want Vybz Kartel win, and from Youth View seh that…furthermore, I never see Vybz Kartel tek a shot at Nesbeth, but you know the Gaza nation come out inna dem numbers. And of course, I didn’t say anything to them because everybody have a right fi express themselves. Some a dem was very much disrespectful, but me did just overcome that by staying focused and moving forward.”
The single My Dream was a huge hit for Nesbeth, topping ethnic reggae charts worldwide in 2015. The song also appeared on the singer’s A.M.E.N album.
He was adamant about being unmoved, regardless of the challenges that come with the music industry.
“Timeless music mi sing. Mi is not about the noise inna the market. When you listen to a Nesbeth, you’ll realise that my songs are here to stay. Even when I pass on outta dah life yah, so that is my focus. So of course you know when you focus down that path, the journey isn’t gonna be easy. I am fully prepared for that…I am ready for the challenge so if the journey is not going to be easy, I am going to do what I have to do to stay focused.”
“The question you’re saying is that because I did, what you thought I did, I fell back. No. After My Dream mi gi yuh Success Story, mi gi yuh Remove My Enemies, mi gi yuh so many songs. Just go and look. These songs favourites. Mi go places and mi sing My Dream, and after mi sing My Dream, people a request back Success Story.”
To conclude his 8-minute long response, Nesbeth reiterated that he has always been, and still is amicable with other entertainers.
“Again, me and no artist inna the industry nuh really have no beef. I respect a man work. If mi see talent out deh, mi nuh need nobody fi tell me fi respect dem because me know what a true artist is, and me know by your work weh dat a come from,” he added.