A Canadian producer has reported to the police that a Jamaican artiste has scammed him of thousands of Jamaican dollars after claiming that he could get incarcerated dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel to record a single.
The producer claims that he was introduced to the artiste by a friend. He claimed that while working with the artiste, it was brought to his attention that the man had connections to Vybz Kartel and that he could broker a deal with him.
"Because I had just released a song with Sizzla Kalonji, I figured that by getting a song with Vybz Kartel, it would be beneficial to my recording label. I asked him, isn't Vybz Kartel incarcerated? He told me he is incarcerated but this is Jamaica...," the producer said.
Kartel collaboration
He was assured that the artiste could obtain Vybz Kartel through producer Elvis Redwood in order for a Kartel collaboration.
"He said he was going to link Elvis and get back to me. When he got back to me, he says that from what Elvis is saying, Kartel wants $100,000 to do the song with him," the producer explained. The figure was then reduced to $60,000 and it is alleged that the money was sent to the artiste.
A week later, the producer was given a demo with an introduction for the song done by someone they claimed to be Kartel. It is further alleged that more demands for money was made by the artiste.
It were also said to have been later discovered that the so-called Vybz Kartel voice was that of an impersonator.
Denied scamming
When contacted, the artiste denied scamming the producer and instead stated that there was a verbal contract with the producer to voice songs for which he was paid $60,000, sent via a cambio.
Meanwhile, Redwood said he was aware of the situation but had no connection with the accused artiste. He warned individuals looking to work with artistes, to do their research.
A police officer at the Organised Crime Investigation Division said he also heard about the incident but had no official report on the matter. He said that a woman made a report on behalf of the producer but was told that he would have to make it himself.
The Corporate Communications Division of the Toronto police confirmed that a report was made by the producer but that the matter was a civil one and hence out of their hands. The representative said there were other options that were available to the producer, however, he could not divulge those options.
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