You Won’t Believe What Inspired Vybz Kartel’s Dancehall Classic “Fever”
“Xo, XO, my love is very special” vividly goes the intro to one of this generation’s greatest dancehall tracks and feel-good party anthems, “Fever”.
The moment this dropped, while in high school or even now while at a bar, you mentally align yourself for some mad whines or “nyigos” as it is informally referred to as. While on one the musical side of the internet a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon an interview of dancehall classic’s creator Vybz Kartel born Adidja Azim Palmer.
Having served 13 years in jail (sentenced for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams in 2014), just as Billboard stated, the Kingston (Jamaica) star is back to claim his throne as the king of the dancehall.
While in the candid exchange with Kyle Denis for the January issue of the Magazine, Vybz Kartel opened up on his experience of creating what’s billed to be one of the biggest songs of his career “Fever” in jail, his plans to get his music cleared for streaming, his evolution as a person, his thoughts on newer artists in the genre and plans on dominating the music industry again!
Speaking of how he was able to record music, and dish out smash hits, earn Silver and Gold records, and generate billions of streams while behind bars, the “Summer” crooner narrated to Kyle that while in, he figured out how to record on an iPhone.
The 46-year-old- music icon furthered that most of the time the sound was metallic because the prison cell didn’t have the padding like what a studio has to balance the sound and so it bounced all over the place. He then said that he somewhat figured out a way he could use his mattress as a sponge that he would place it on his head as he recorded, hence producing surprisingly clearer sounding music. That he would then afterwards send the vocals to a trusted engineer on the outside. This person would then mix it to sound crisp and professional. Vybz detailed that he would have the phone, like 3 feet from his face and then would wrap the mattress around his head and record, as he plays the beat/ instrumental using the iPad and recording his vocals on the iPhone.
Appearing on an episode of “Juan EP Is Life”, Vybz revealed that; when he had just been arrested, his team continued helping him release the tracks he had recorded beforehand, but then time reached and they ran out, and so he had to come up with a way to record new music.
Because of the rules in prison, Vybz Kartel revealed that he had to sneakily record music at odd hours of the day. “Most of the time, we had to record like at night but sometimes, it had to be like 12 o’clock when most of the officers would be on like lunch break and I would still have to be watching,” he explained. “So, I’d be like, ‘fever!’ and then I’d have to get up and look. It was crazy. It was line by line!”
He went on to dish out not just albums, EPs but projects that enjoyed commercial acclaim across the dancehall genre. Among these being “Fever”.
While in the same interview, the 48-year-old superstar opened up on what inspired the song’s viral and very ear captivating intro; “Xo, XO, my love is very special”. Vybz Kartel revealed that, while in the coolers, he was such a fan of the classic TV drama, Gossip Girl and he watched it a lot.
The phrase “XOXO Gossip Girl” serves as a signature sign-off for the anonymous narrator of the series. It encapsulates the show’s themes of gossip, romance, and intrigue among New York City’s elite youth. The “XOXO” symbolizes hugs and kisses, adding a layer of irony given that the gossip often has serious implications for the characters’ lives. This closing line reinforced the idea that Gossip Girl is always watching and commenting on their lives, creating a sense of continuity and connection throughout the series. It also contributes to the show’s distinctive tone and playful yet dramatic atmosphere.
The dancehall legend remarked in the interview that he “bathed in it” (binge watched) all the 6 seasons of the teen drama hence having its sign off phrase as the intro of one of the biggest tracks of his career “Fever”. The thematically poised song was a portrayal of intense romantic desire and passion. In it, Vybz Kartel uses the term “fever” metaphorically to describe the overwhelming emotions and physical chemistry he feels toward his lover, as though her presence is causing an irresistible heat or feverish state.
“Fever’s infectious beat and the raw emotion also contributed to it becoming an instant banger in May 2016 upon release, further solidifying Vybz Kartel’s status as a dancehall icon and one of the genre’s greatest voices of this generation. According to Billboard, the track as lifted off his 2016 album King of the Dancehall has been streamed over 100,000,000 times.
Even while away, Kartel dominated the street parties, the radio and weekly charts not just in his home country (Jamaica), but also internationally. Among his other releases were bodies of work; “Born Fi Dis (2021), Of Dons & Divas (2020), To Tanesha (2020), and Viking (2015).
