Shawn Storm Says Portmore Empire Reunion Isn’t In His Hands
While some fans are clamouring for a Portmore Empire reunion at Vybz Kartel’s post-prison concert in December, loyalist Shawn Storm is not interested.
The My Life singjay, who served 13 years behind bars with Kartel on a since-overturned murder conviction, was asked about a possible reunion during a recent interview with his lawyer Isat Buchanan.
“Weh yuh mean by reunion?” Storm responded. “Reunion a fi lovers enuh.”
He then gave a more serious response, highlighting that such a decision doesn’t lie in his hands.
“Me cya hold nuh reunion; a the boss haffi do that if him choose to…” Storm said. “Me nah nuh say over no reunion. If the G decide seh, yow, a dis a go gwaan, mi deh deh.”
But in a utopia, Storm indicated that he would never want to work with his previous label mates again.
“When me did deh inna prison for 13 years, which one a dem did a work with me?” he asked. “So now when me deh a road, weh me fi a work wid dem fah? Yeah bredda, mi nuh inna nuh hypocrisy thing… That’s why mi seh anything the G seh, mi a work wid, cause if it up to me enuh bredda, bloodcl**t tell you enuh man.”
Kartel, who was in the background, quickly intercepted, “Don’t tell him.”
But Storm is seemingly cool with former label mate Lisa Hyper, as he shared a photo of them on Monday.
Other Portmore Empire members featured artists like Blak Ryno, Popcaan, Jah Vinci, Vanessa Bling, Gaza Sheba, Gaza Kim, Gaza Indu, Deva Bratt, Merrital Family and producer Notnice.
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 Kartel’s cronies; Notnice claiming Kartel made thugs invade his property and steal his equipment; and Ryno claiming he’s been blackballed ever since exiting the camp.
Despite the complex history of relationships in the Portmore Empire, several members took to social media to celebrate the release of their former boss and team mate.
The disbanded group’s most successful mentee, 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👊🏿.”
Ryno opted for fewer words, posting a photo of Kartel on his feed with the sentiment “One go!”
Sheba perhaps oozed the most enthusiasm, sharing multiple posts after waking up to the news of his release. She also sent love to Storm and the other co-accused.
Hyper and Vanessa Bling also shared their joy for the men’s release in posts that have since been deleted.
Blade Merital from the Merital Family also sent kind regards to his former principal in some throwback photo posts.
Sikka Rymes, who joined the unit later on as the ‘Gaza VP’, made subtle posts toasting to Kartel’s freedom. Rymes, himself, was recently released from a UK prison.