KINGSTON, Jamaica – Outlining that his nearly 13-year stint behind bars was the most trying of times, dancehall star Vybz Kartel says he’s embracing his freedom through prayer and thanksgiving.

“When mi did inna prison, mi literally pray to God and mi say father God if yuh carry mi outta da situation yah, mi never stop praise yuh, mi never stop shout yuh name. Mi talk to God, read mi Bible and him answer mi prayer. Mi forever grateful fi dat. Mi tattoo the thing pan mi face say ‘love God’ twice,” he told Observer Online following the launch of his New Year’s Eve comeback concert, Freedom Street, on Wednesday.

The deejay born Adijah Palmer says now that he’s living in answered prayers, he is not ashamed to openly profess his love for God. In fact, Kartel says he has embraced prayer and reads his Bible regularly.

“Mi talk to God, mi read mi Bible. Him answer mi prayer and mi forever grateful fi dat,” he said outlining that he is trying to walk the straight and narrow.

Since his reentry into society this past summer, videos of Kartel out and about with his now-fiance, Sidem Öztürk, as well as his children, have flooded social media. The entertainer says his recent engagement and his public displays of affection for his fiance and children are testament to the life he hopes to lead.

“Mi come out, me and Sidem, we engaged and mi and mi kids dem reunite. Mi a behave mi self, show back love and support to mi fans and give back to mi fans because mi blessed. Mi just a live mi best life,” he said.

“Change is good,” he continued.

Vybz Kartel, who also used Wednesday’s launch event to debut his rebranded white rum, Str8 Vybz, says the venture is also a part of his growth and maturity. According to him, he has an elevated mindset which now includes honing his entrepreneurial skills.

“This is no longer Street Vybz Rum, it’s Str8 Vybz and it represents change. It represents maturity, resilience and it represents family. The creation of this rum from the flavours to the labels, to the taste, was a family project. It’s not just about the hype with this brand, Vybz Kartel brings the hype but Angostura brings unity and family,” he said. “It’s about the man who sweep the distillery, it’s about the woman who packages the rum…it’s an entire family project.”

Str8 Vybz Rum has four flavours named after hit singles curated by the deejay including Unstoppable, Electric, Fever and Ramping Shop.

Kartel’s highly-anticipated return to the stage will unfold at the National Stadium on December 31 in a three-hour concert event dubbed Freedom Street.