Yesterday, American businessman Corey Todd, the majority owner of Vybz Kartel's The Building nightclub in Kingston, sent out a press release announcing the end of his business relationship with Kartel. Todd said he's grown uncomfortable with the performer's radically reformed appearance and called Kartel untrustworthy, saying,
Kartel and I haven't seen eye to eye in a while, and late last week, after a disagreement, he threatened me on the phone…I have contacted my lawyers and the relevant authorities to deal with this issue immediately…I am my own man, I have never worked for Vybz Kartel, I helped to build his career…I don't understand the creative direction he's moving in with regards to his image or his music. I don't know this new Vybz Kartel, I haven't known him for quite a while. "
Kartel denied threatening Todd in a counter-statement, but confirmed the end of their partnership,
It has come to my attention that rumors have been circulating that I have made certain disparaging remarks about and towards Mr. Corey Todd. I must state that nothing could be farther from the truth. Mr. Todd and I have had a cordial business and personal relationship to date. However, we have reached a point in our professional journey where we are going in different directions and consequently we will be wrapping up our business relationship.
Todd's departure follows the separation of Kartel from longtime friend and producer Ainsley ‘NotNice' Morris, with whom he collaborated on successful tracks like "Rampin Shop," "Last Man Standing" and "Turn N Whine." The Jamaican Star reported that following a disagreement, NotNice was assaulted and robbed of his studio equipment in February. Both Karel and NotNice has declined to comment on allegations that Kartel was responsible for the incident.
