When requested the place he was most excited to carry out after lastly regaining his freedom following a 13-year jail stint, Vybz Kartel responded, “The complete Caribbean and New York — that’s Jamaica exterior of Jamaica!”
Within the eight months since he walked out of jail, the King of Dancehall has barely taken a minute to sit down down. To ring within the new yr, Kartel mounted Freedom Avenue on Dec. 31, 2024, marking Jamaica’s largest stay music occasion in nearly 50 years. The stadium-sized occasion featured appearances by dancehall giants like Skeng and Popcaan, in addition to Kartel’s sons — each recording artists in their very own proper — Likkle Vybz and Likke Addi. Freedom Avenue kicked off a worldwide comeback tour for Kartel that has since included an look at February’s Grammy Awards (the place he loved his first nomination for greatest reggae album, due to his 2024 Celebration With Me EP), a efficiency on the U.Ok.’s MOBO Awards (the place he was honored with the affect award), and the announcement of a set at Wi-fi in help of Drake‘s three-night takeover of the Finsbury Park pageant.
In 2025, any Worl’ Boss efficiency is a particular one, however the Billboard cowl star wasn’t joking when he known as New York “Jamaica exterior of Jamaica.” On Friday (April 11), Kartel performed his first of two sold-out exhibits at Brooklyn’s Barclays Heart — his first Stateside headlining live performance in over 20 years, organized by Reggae Fest. Brooklyn, which has an extremely excessive inhabitants of first, second and even third-generation Caribbean-People, was the proper host borough for Kartel’s return. For each BK neighborhood the DJ shouted out (Flatbush, Canarsie and Utica rightfully obtained a whole lot of love), a unique island obtained the identical quantity of shine (Grenada, Trinidad, St. Vincent and, in fact, Jamaica had been among the many most talked about isles of the night time). Kartel didn’t hit the stage till shortly after 10 p.m. E.T., however DJ Milan primed the gang with over two hours’ worths of reggae and dancehall classics, spinning anthems by everybody from Buju Banton and Shenseea to Elephant Man and Teejay.
Kartel made his triumphant return to the stage together with his legendary remix of Akon‘s “Locked Up.” “Look! 13 years inna jail, and mi come out a common!” he declared, sauntering throughout the stage and absorbing the rabid screams from the 19,000-capacity area.
Worl’ Boss then launched into his litany of hits, tearing by way of “Dumpa Truck,” “Benz Punany,” “It Bend Like Banana,” “You and Him Deh,” “Avenue Vybz,” “Come Breed Me” and “Flip Up the F–okay.” Kartel, who’s at the moment coping with Graves’ illness and a coronary heart situation, neatly cut up up his set with cameos from a number of shock company, permitting him ample time to catch his breath and tempo himself all through the present.
Early within the night time, Kartel introduced out two former Portmore Empire associates, Jah Vinci and Black Ryno, each of whom helped amp the vitality within the room. The truth is, Black Ryno had a lot vitality, he obtained just a little forward of himself and worn out whereas strolling down the stage’s catwalk. Different particular company all through the night time included Latin Grammy-nominated producer Rvssian, Queen of Dancehall Spice and rap legend Busta Rhymes (who effortlessly rapped his whole “Have a look at Me Now” verse). Nearly extra spectacular than Kartel’s stamina was simply how a lot energy he held over the gang. If anybody sat down throughout his two-hour set, it was just for a short minute to search out their bearings after a very depraved wine. Kartel’s catalog isn’t affected by Billboard Scorching 100 prime 10 hits or U.S. radio smashes, however none of that mattered on Friday night time. When a catalog is so beloved that followers are rapping deep cuts that dropped earlier than they had been even born, there’s one thing very particular going down.
To shut out his set, Kartel fired off his greatest crossover smashes, together with “Summertime,” “Clarks,” “Fever” and, in fact, “Brooklyn Anthem,” gifting Kings County some of the memorable nights of stay music within the borough’s storied historical past.
Listed below are the 5 greatest moments from Vybz Kartel’s first U.S. headlining present in over 20 years.
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Rvssian Hits the Stage for ‘Straight Denims & Fitted’
“Straight Denims & Fitted” was certainly one of Kartel’s earliest crossover hits again within the late ’00s, so it was particularly nostalgic to listen to the dancehall legend play the tune on Friday night time. The one option to make the second sweeter was to carry out Rvssian, the Billboard Scorching 100-charting producer who crafted the riddim and featured on the observe.
Since his launch, Kartel has taken further care to share his phases with the collaborators who helped him attain the dancehall’s apex and stored him such a domineering power within the sport all through his incarceration. Rvssian and Kartel owned the stage like lifelong brothers, their camaraderie and mutual appreciation radiating throughout the world. Coming close to the tip of the night time, Rvssian’s look gave one final sudden jolt of vitality and reminded us to all the time large up the skills behind the boards.
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‘Brooklyn Anthem’ Shuts Down BK
Brooklyn, BK, the Thoroughest Borough, Kings County — no matter you wish to name it, Brooklyn cleared up any and all confusion round which NYC borough is one of the best on Friday night time.
Launched in 2005, “Brooklyn Anthem” simply sits among the many biggest musical tributes to the borough, and Kartel’s show-closing rendition completely shut the world down. Earlier than he launched into the observe, he placed on a Brooklyn Nets jersey — which solely additional delayed the start of the track as a result of he by chance put it on backward — and when he started spitting, “Diss man from Nineties/ Makaveli mek yuh know what ah hollowpoint is/ Bwoy neva thoughts him bomboclaat enterprise/ Rev rev out yuh life like seven collection,” Barclays Heart exploded.
It’s almost inconceivable to explain the sensation of listening to “Brooklyn Anthem” in a Brooklyn area surrounded by BK-repping Caribbeans, however it’s seemingly probably the most patriotic anybody in that room had felt in fairly a while. Many assumed Kartel would finish the night time with a smash like “Clarks” or “Fever,” however Worl’ Boss understood each his viewers and the gravity of the second. It was Brooklyn’s time to shine.
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Teresa Palmer Receives Particular Highlight
The primary place Kartel went after leaving jail was his mom’s home, the place he had a tearful reunion along with her over a plate of steamed fish and okra. On Friday night time, each Kartel’s mom, Teresa Palmer, and the tears returned for an particularly poignant second close to the tip of the present.
Within the again half of the present, Kartel introduced his mom on stage and dropped down on bended knee to dedicate a heartfelt rendition of “Mama” to her. Because the hook — “Mama mama (my mummy)/ Mama, mama, mama, mama (a mi mom that)/ My madda (she loves me)/ My madda (me love her!) — reverberated throughout the world, Kartel’s mom gently caressed his head as he sang to her.
Not usually do followers get to see such an unabashed show of humility and love from artists who’ve achieved mind-boggling heights and near-mythical standing, however Friday night time’s crowd obtained an up-close view at what that appears like from Kartel.
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The King Holds Area for the Queen
Because the names of rumored shocked company swirled all through the world (Popcaan? Drake? Cardi B?), one title stored popping up: Spice. In spite of everything, how would the King of Dancehall execute a correct comeback present with out the Queen of Dancehall by his aspect?
Clearly, Kartel agreed, bringing out Spice — in her trademark all-blue hair and wardrobe ensemble — for a show-stopping medley of their (and her) greatest hits. The Grammy-nominated Queen of Dancehall gave Kartel a steamy lapdance as they traded verses on “Romping Store,” which reached No. 76 on Scorching R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in 2009, marking each artists’ Billboard chart debut. Quickly sufficient, Kartel requested a second throne be introduced out (this one was blue) for the Queen, however Spice solely ever sat down lengthy sufficient to take off her footwear, making certain most flexibility for the remainder of her set. Throughout spirited renditions of “Again Means” and “Conjugal Go to,” Spice hit leg lifts and splits, and gave a masterclass in twerking as she challenged Worl’ Boss to maintain up along with her. To his credit score, Kartel did match her freak, dropping behind her in sluggish movement to hit the doggy-style intercourse place throughout “Go to.”
Like all nice king, Kartel gave Spice a while to play her personal hit songs. She led her “besties” in impassioned sing-alongs to “So Mi Like It” and “Struggle Over Man,” even discovering time to plug her new “Eleven” single. Again like they by no means left, Barclays noticed the King and Queen of Dancehall remind the world why they personal these titles — even within the face of Kartel’s fiancée, Sidem Öztürk.
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‘God Is Biggest’ Soundtracks a Second of Gratitude
On the prime of the yr (Jan. 31), Kartel re-issued his 2015 Viking (Vybz Is King) LP with seven new songs in honor of the document’s 10-year anniversary. Amongst these new additions was “God Is the Biggest,” which soundtracked one of many night time’s most emotionally charged moments.
Halfway by way of his efficiency of the observe, even Kartel’s jet-black sun shades couldn’t conceal his emotion as Brooklyn’s embrace of the dancehall legend introduced him to tears. At this level within the present, it seemingly hit Kartel in actual time that he was again performing in certainly one of his most beloved cities. He briefly minimize the music as a couple of of his crew members and protégés consoled him onstage earlier than ending the track robust, its pure-hearted refrain rising to Barclays’ rafters. No one’s tomorrow is promised, and for Kartel that tomorrow meant the remainder of his life and profession. However Friday night time was proof optimistic that God has many extra tomorrows in retailer for Worl’ Boss.
“And the Lord is round us/ Him blessing encompass us/ Mi nuh care who like mi, mi only a gwaan present love,” he and the crown scream-sang in unison.
