American businessman Corey Todd, opened up to TVJ’s Entertainment Report about his reconciliation with his business partner Vybz Kartel, his Juggz sports bar and his thoughts on former Portmore Empire members Popcaan and Tommy Lee.
Todd and Kartel mixed business and entertainment by partnering in several ventures including Street Vybz Rum, Daggering Condoms and The Building Nightclub where the music of Vybz Kartel and his Portmore Empire proteges featured prominently on a regular basis. The two parted ways in May 2011 but a year later have decided to bury the hatchet and get back into business.
“We’re working back together, we’ve definitely mended fences,” said Todd.
“Some things were said and we just squashed it because at the end of the day, we both know that the two of us have done things in Jamaica that nobody has ever seen, so Round 2 very soon.”
While his partner Kartel sits in a Kingston jail awaiting trial on murder charges, Todd is Busy remodeling Quad nightclub. The building’s ground level, formerly Christopher’s Jazz Cafe, is being transformed into Juggz Sports Bar- a Hooter’s type establishment which he promised to feature “beautiful ladies.”
As for former Portmore Empire members, Todd says Tommy Lee has “an original sound and he has the Machine…the Machine is powerful.” When ER producer Anthony Miller asked Todd if Popcaan has the Machine his response was more guarded .. “I don’t really wanna get into that but, whatever’s there I hope it works out.”
Meanwhile Todd says Kartel is in high spirits and he is confident that Kartel will beat the charges and will come out a more prominent artist than before:
He is going to beat this…don’t believe everything you hear, he is going to beat it, and when he comes out he is going to be the biggest thing Jamaica has ever seen. Vybz Kartel is still the hottest thing. You have artists from all over the world calling me. Some big hip-hop artists want to fly to Jamaica and meet with the lawyer…it’s going to be some big things when he comes out. It’s sad the situation has happened but when he beat it he is going to be bigger than he was.”
Miller will be revealing deets from his interview with Kartel later today. Supposedly the self-proclaimed Worl Boss has a list of those loyal to him and Tommy Lee and Popcaan are not on it!
In case you’re wondering…
Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, will appear in court on October 29 where he will stand trial in relation to the shooting death of St. Catherine based promoter Barrington ‘Bossie’ Burton. He faces three charges in relation to that case: murder, conspiracy to murder and illegal possession for a firearm. The co-accused in that matter are Nigel Thompson and Lenburgh McDonald.
A week later, on November 5, Kartel will answer to accusations in another case this time related to the murder of St. Catherine-based dancer, Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.
Kartel’s co-accused in this case include Shawn Campbell AKA Shawn Storm, Calvin ‘Moonie Haye, Shawn Williams, Kahira Jones and Andre St. John aka Mad Suss.
Kartel, along with long-time protégé, Gaza Slim and studio engineer, Andre ‘Pim Pim’ Henry face obstruction of justice-related charges in the Williams case.
Vybz Kartel has been in police custody since last September, when he was arrested in a New Kingston hotel and charged with ganja possession. That charge has since been thrown out. Although he got bail in the Barrington ‘Bossie’ Burton murder case this past March he is still remand since bail could not be obtained in the Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams matter.
Kartel’s lawyer, Valerie Neita-Robertson has hinted that she would apply for bail on behalf of her client sometime between the two trial dates.
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