Dancehall deejay Vybz Kartel (Adidja Palmer) released his debut book Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto on Friday (July 6, 2012). The book was co-authored by Michael Dawson and officially copyrighted last August in the U.S. The official launch took place in Spanish Town, where Kartel has spent the last few months in custody. See excerpts of recent news releases:

Kartel has always said to expect the unexpected. In a statement released May 2011, Kartel threatened to use the pedestal that ‘Babylon’ has put him on to fight for his people – ‘Ghetto People.’ Through this book, Kartel is signaling that the fight for change starts now. Can Vybz Kartel change Jamaica for the better from behind bars? He has vowed to and based on Kartel’s ability to use his lyrics to gather a following, it will be interesting how this initiative by Kartel will affect Jamaica. On the cover of his book, Kartel states “I pray this book helps to change Jamaica forever.”

[. . .] Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto will signal a fight for change in Jamaica and should spark interesting conversations on many topics such as racism, classicism amongst other things. The book also promises to expose the “other half of the story that has never been told.” A story which Reggae pioneers have sang about – but Vybz Kartel has dared to put it into book form. While Kartel proudly acknowledges 50 years of Independence for Jamaica, Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto boldly asks – “50 years of what for poor people?”

For original articles, see http://www.outaroad.com/2012/07/vybz_kartels_voice_of_the_jama.html and http://www.reggaeville.com/nc/artist-details/artist/vybz-kartel/news/book-vybz-kartels-the-voice-of-the-jamaican-ghetto-1/ac/news.html