Behind the Scenes of Vybz Kartel’s Quiet Battle With Serious Health Issues

The Breakdown: Vybz Kartel is arguably one of Jamaica’s most prolific artists, with three decades in the business, a repertoire of big chunes, and a career that survived a 13-year prison sentence. Despite battling a serious autoimmune disorder, the dancehall star is unstoppable.

When Vybz Kartel sang, “Dancehall a mi everyting,” he meant it. The Jamaican hitmaker, whose real name is Adidja Azim Palmer, hasn’t let anything stop him from creating the music he loves.

Much of his catalogue was released while he was in prison, with some of the tracks, like Fever (2016), recorded in his cell in Jamaica’s Tower Street Adult Correctional Facility. Incarceration isn’t the only obstacle Kartel has had to overcome, though. He’s also dealing with serious health issues.

While the dancehall star is now free from prison and enjoying a new era, Vybz Kartel’s illness is still a concern for his fans. Here’s what you need to know about his condition and how it’s impacting his career.

Kartel was sentenced to life in prison in 2011 for the murder of an associate, though he always maintained his innocence. In 2023, news reports revealed that Kartel’s lawyer was pushing to expedite the appeal of his conviction on the grounds of the artist’s health.

Kartel has Graves’ disease — the same illness Wendy Williams has — and undisclosed heart conditions. During his incarceration, Kartel’s health suffered significantly. During his 2023 appeal, his lawyer shared that Kartel was not receiving adequate care in prison, and his doctor’s recommendations for urgent surgery were ignored.

Graves’ Disease is autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland. In response, the body produces more thyroid hormones than it needs, causing body functions to dangerously speed up. Symptoms include weight loss, exhaustion, and sleep issues.

Two other symptoms are swelling in the face and neck and bulging eyes, both of which Kartel is experiencing. When he won his appeal and was released from prison in July 2024, it was those visible symptoms that caused fans to worry about the Clarks singer’s health.

Kartel has acknowledged the impact of his Graves’ Disease and has been vocal about his plan to get the care he needs. He told Fox5 that since his release, he sees his doctor every week for monitoring, and he’s on a special diet and a fitness regimen.

In an interview on All Things Keyshia Ka’oir, he revealed that he would be working with doctors in St. Vincent, Cuba, and Jamaica to treat his condition. Treatments for Graves’ disease usually include anti-thyroid medicines, iodine therapy, beta blockers, and surgery.

The King of Dancehall is also prioritizing TLC, spending time with his seven children, his mom, and his fiancée Sidem Oturk. Though there was one public incident in which he appeared to fall sick in a Kingston nightclub in October 2024, Kartel seems to be doing well.

Though Graves’ disease may have changed the Pon De Floor singer’s appearance and subdued his on-stage presence a little, the artist remains a force. He had his first major performance in December 2024, with Freedom Street, a New Year’s Eve show in Jamaica that attracted more than 35,000 fans.

A few months later, in April 2025, he sold out Brooklyn’s Barclays Centre two nights in a row, putting on an electric show featuring guests like Spice, Busta Rhymes, Popcaan, Skeng, Shenseea, and Rvssian.

The audience was full of celebrity guests like Safaree, Stefflon Don, and Elephant Man. Cardi B, who is a very vocal fan, was also in attendance. In a Billboard interview, Kartel revealed that he loves Cardi too, and the pair would be releasing a collaboration this year.

In addition to dropping new solo hits and collabs, Kartel has booked concerts in Barbados, Costa Rica, Florida, Guyana, St. Kitts, Germany, London, and Malta. With that international performance lineup, Kartel has clearly earned the nickname Worl’ Boss.

He’s also making his rounds on the award circuits. He got his first Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album for his 2024 EP Party With Me, and he received the Impact Award at the MOBO Awards in the U.K. He’s also got five nominations for the 2025 Caribbean Music Awards.

It's clear that Vybz Kartel’s illness isn’t stopping his passion or his success. With sold-out concerts, highly anticipated collabs, and a load of awards and accolades on the horizon for him, he’s sure to continue building on his legacy—and his $1 million net worth. But he’s just living up to his own lyrics — “Ghetto yute, unstoppable.”