Vybz Kartel during his historic performance at Barclays Stadium in Brooklyn, New York, over the weekend. The deejay performed in backto- back sold-out concerts on Friday and Saturday nights. (Photos: Barclays Stadium Instagram account)
Historic! Monumental! Unforgettable. Those were just a few of the words being used to describe Vybz Kartel’s back-to-back concerts in New York City on the weekend.
After more than a decade behind bars, and two decades since his last appearance in The Big Apple, the Comet deejay blazed a trail so hot that his US return has been the hot topic on social media for the past 48 hours.
For many, the occasion marked the return of a man whose consistency kept him at the pinnacle of dancehall even while being physically bound. With music transcending generations, music pundits believe Vybz Kartel has breathed new life into dancehall music. They shared that his sold-out shows in Brooklyn were not just a testament to his impact, but proof that dancehall is alive and well.
“I think this moment in music history shows that the genre is not dead. People like to talk as if dancehall isn’t a huge deal globally, but these sold-out shows prove that dancehall is alive and kicking. Dancehall always was popular, and sometimes people just need a reminder,” said Neil “Diamond” Edwards, senior director of artists and repertoire at VP Records. “Kartel provided that reminder. It’s not an easy thing to sell out Barclays Centre, moreso to do it back-to-back, and I was there. It was no fluke, the stadium was crowded to the point I wondered if I would get to my seat.”
Having been engrained in the industry for years, Edwards says this move, accompanied by the recent reinstatement of US visas for various artistes, is exactly what dancehall needs to finally get the credit it deserves.
“This is a good thing for us and what we need to do is take the mantle and run with it. We cannot look at this as ‘Oh, it was just Kartel’, because this can be a catalyst for even greater things for the genre,” he said. “Younger dancehall acts must now use this opportunity to make their marks. Hard work pays off, and being consistent pays off. This is a business at the end of the day, treat it as such and watch your career go places you could only imagine.”
Agreeing with Edwards, popular dancehall selector Hottarice shared that, having brought dancehall music to countless events across the United States, he knows first hand that the genre is a global brand.
He shared that Kartel’s resurgence and subsequent sold-out shows prove the genre can garner immense international attention.
“Sean Paul and Shaggy have been doing it on the global stage for years, and so it’s good to see another, especially someone as hard-core as Vybz Kartel, come and do the same. This is a huge deal for dancehall and the culture. Kartel get the crown from the Jamaican people, go jail and come out like a newborn ready for the world stage,” he said. “The world has now accepted what we Jamaicans knew all along. Everybody wanted a chance to see the greatness, and that’s why the show was sold out two nights in a row.”
Edwards said the New York reception came as no surprise as the proverbial writing has been on the wall for decades. He shared that with Kartel managing to hold his place while being incarcerated, there was no stopping the “Worl’ Boss” train once he was set free.
“If you have been following Kartel’s career then this kind of reaction was more than expected, and I think today he must be feeling extremely proud of himself. To be in captivity for 13 years, it must have been hell, and still he was producing music, remaining relevant, and staying on top of his game,” he said. “You have to look at the magnitude of artiste that Kartel is, and before he went in the fan base and influence he had was nothing normal. There was no doubt in my mind that any time he was released he would have this kind of traction.”
Edwards went on to share that Vybz Kartel is a once-in-a-lifetime artiste who continues to transcend generations.
“Kartel is an anomaly. I don’t want to age him, but this man is probably in his 50s by now. Which dancehall artiste has ever managed to keep the attention of the fans he broke into the business with while gaining new fans from a whole different generation,” Edwards questioned. “It shows that age means nothing, and it’s the impact that means everything. My son is 13 years old, which means Kartel was behind bars his entire life, and still he knows who the artiste is and what he means to the culture. For you to have such a command of multiple generations, that’s not a normal thing.”
With a piece of history now written, Kartel’s colleagues say his Freedom Street shows in the US have earned the entertainer a place among Jamaica’s greatest musicians. The commendations have been flowing via social media.
“Congratulations @vybzkartel. You told me from 2010 that you’ll be the legend! You deserve the glory because you work and fight for it. I’m happy to see you reaping the fruits of your labour while representing the culture! More grace and blessings. It’s a historic moment,” Popcaan took to social media to pen on Monday.
“A very big congratulations @vybzkartel on two nights of back-to-back sold-out concerts with over 20,000 people each night at the Barclays. This post doesn’t even sum up half of our journey however, it shows a glimpse of where we are coming from and why I was brought to tears behind the scenes,” Spice shared in her tribute post to
Instagram. “I love you so much. God is the greatest. After 13 years your spirit never wavered. You stood tall and held your own. Was down and now you’re back where you belong…the world waited, and now the King is back in full effect.”
“I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude for being part of this historic moment, which marks a milestone not only for Vybz Kartel and dancehall music but also for my personal journey. I’d like to extend my thanks to my team and the event organisers for making this possible. Much love to my fans and supporters,” Jah Vinci wrote on his
IG page.
“God’s work. Never been done by no other dancehall artiste before. Back-to-back sold-out shows in the same city…not even Jay-Z ever sold out Barclays like that, so any Jamaican not happy for this and the culture is certainly a vulture,” Bounty Killer wrote in his post. “His life is a true testimony that there’s a true and living God among us. Dancehall in its rightful space again right now. If a nuh unity leave dancehall community.”
Vybz Kartel during his historic performance at Barclays Stadium in Brooklyn, New York, over the weekend. The deejay performed in back-to-back sold-out concerts on Friday and Saturday nights. (Photos: Barclays Stadium Instagram account)