VYBZ KARTEL’S PARTNER TANESHA “SHORTY” JOHNSON, STARTS HER OWN RECORDING BUSINESS!

 By Simone Morgan–

Tanesha ‘Shorty’ Johnson—

It was during Vybz Kartel’s murder trial, that his partner, Tanesha ‘Shorty’ Johnson, created the Short Boss Muzik Label.

She has now been producing for little over a year.

Johnson said she gained her experience while spending time at the recording studios with Kartel.

“Vybz Kartel was the one who gave me the idea and everything. I am a strong black woman and I love to try new things and have my own form of independence, so when he gave me the idea, I quickly bought into it,” Johnson told the Splash.

Her production credit first appeared on Kartel’s School. Gimi Di Money — by couple’s sons Adidja (Little Addi) and Akheel Palmer (Little Vybz) — was next. A bevy Kartel tracks followed including Make Up, Louis V, Addi Truth and Pretty Face. She said tracks Gimmi Little Room, Love So 2015 and We Will Make It are to come as well as music video for a single Hero, featuring her sons.

Johnson — who hails from Gregory Park, St Catherine — said while she doesn’t plan on recording, she would be expanding her clientele. Currently, female singjays Kesha and Slimatic, and Frasshill are signed to Short Boss Muzik label.

Vybz Kartel

She said she splits her time between music and family.

“My oldest son is preparing for GSAT exams, so my focus is mainly tending to my kids and their father,” she told Splash.

Their father, Vbyz Kartel is currently serving a life sentence for the death of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams. He will be eligible for parole after 35 years.

She said Kartel’s absence has been hard, but she is coping.

“It’s not like he is dead and it’s not like I am not going to see him again. Sometimes, I like to tell myself that he is overseas,” she said.

Johnson also oversees the business side of Vybz Kartel’s music and said she receives a lot of requests from persons to use his music. She said Hapilos Entertainment, Tad’s Records and Jamaica Music Society (JAMMS) handle publishing and rights.

Johnson said another piece of her world came crashing down when her mother and confidant — Valrie Carless Salmon — passed away after a brief illness last month.

“It is really hard as my mother and I were extremely close. Every night I cry before I fall asleep. The emotional pain is almost unbearable,” she said.

She said she is however, soldiering on, and uses her music as an avenue of comfort.