Vybz Kartel has announced his intention to return to peak form shortly after being released from prison.
The Jamaican dancehall legend was originally sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014 for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams in 2011, but his conviction was overturned earlier this year after he completed 13 years behind bars.
In an interview with Fox 5 New York’s Lisa Evers following his release last week, Kartel, who is managing the auto-immune disorder Graves’ Disease, shared his plans for the future.
“Healthwise, you know I’m working on my health right now, but the feeling of just being free is just an amazing feeling,” he said. “I could be better, but I’m super upbeat.”
And as part of his new routine, he’s already invested in a bike and a treadmill.
“I’ve hit the ground running,” he added.
The “Summertime” hitmaker suffered a number of health issues while locked up.
In June, Evers spoke to his attorney, Isat Buchanan, who revealed that Kartel needed medical help last year.
“Mr. Palmer’s illness is actually life-threatening,” he told the longtime New York journalist. “His neck was swollen, if you think of a shirt that is about 18.5 inches in the neck area, you couldn’t close the collar on his neck and that’s how bad it is in this moment.”
He continued: “His face is actually swollen. And one other thing. He always wears glasses; in this condition, that causes his eyes to protrude.”
Vybz Kartel was subjected to solitary confinement for as much as 23 hours each day, with his legal team contending that he was being denied access to fresh air.
On July 31, Jamaica’s Court of Appeal determined that Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Azim Palmer, and his co-defendants will not undergo a retrial.
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