Masicka Calls Vybz Kartel “Fagisha” in “Wake Up”—But Did He Just Hand Tommy Lee Sparta the Victory?

The intense dancehall clash between Masicka and Tommy Lee Sparta reached a critical juncture with the release of Masicka’s latest track, “Wake Up.” The song will be remembered for one thing above all else: Masicka finally, and openly, taking aim at Vybz Kartel, the long-reigning “boss man” of the genre.

However, despite the anticipated moment, a breakdown of the track suggests the highly pressurized diss was underwhelming and may have signaled a strategic retreat in the ongoing war.

Dissing the King: Kartel is “Fagisha”

Masicka, under immense public pressure to address the rumored involvement of Vybz Kartel in the clash, chose a highly personal line of attack. The most direct disses were aimed at Kartel, with Masicka:

• Calling him “Fagisha,” a loaded term previously used by Mavado during his own iconic feud with Kartel.

• Labeling him a “friend killer,” an accusation believed to reference the murder case involving Kartel and the subsequent conviction, suggesting a general lack of loyalty.

• Accusing Kartel of betrayal by referencing his early mentor, Bounty Killer, whom Kartel famously clashed with years after being brought into the spotlight.

The overall message to Kartel was one of public disassociation, with Masicka proclaiming, “Them can’t see one side… no Gaza pussy,” effectively severing any remaining ties to the Gaza camp. Masicka also challenged Kartel’s bravery, suggesting the veteran artist was “afraid” and thus sent his “minion” Tommy Lee Sparta to fight the battle for him.

Targeting Tommy Lee: The “Cartel Gal”

While the Kartel disses made headlines, the bulk of the track was directed at Masicka’s main rival, Tommy Lee Sparta. Masicka consistently referred to Tommy Lee as “Cartel gal” and “another man youth,” positioning him as a weak subordinate fighting only out of fear for his leader.

Masicka also revived territorial disses, accusing Tommy Lee of being a “mo man” who knows nothing about the “Kingston crime” life that Masicka claims to represent. He also repeatedly mocked Tommy Lee for allegedly running out of his home territory. Perhaps the track’s most brutal comparison against Tommy Lee involved the lyric “Blood clot wild crocodile no lizard,” referencing the term used for the victim in Vybz Kartel’s high-profile murder conviction.

The Verdict: “Substanceless” and a “Forfeit”

Despite the high stakes, many analysts have deemed “Wake Up” a profound disappointment. The general consensus is that Masicka’s song was “the weakest, most boring, substanceless listen of this entire clash.”

Critics pointed out that Masicka’s track failed to respond to a single substantive point raised in Tommy Lee’s previous, well-received diss track, “Crown Clone.” Furthermore, the lack of creativity was highlighted, with Masicka being accused of recycling the “exact same flow, cadence, beats, and honestly at this point the same lyrics” across four consecutive songs.

The decision to finally name-drop Vybz Kartel was viewed less as a bold move and more as a desperate response to external pressure. Ultimately, the song’s perceived artistic failure has led some to conclude that Masicka has “basically forfeited the war,” despite holding what seemed like the tactical advantage.