Vybz Kartel’s claim to the crown and the title of King of Dancehall grew stronger this past weekend with the deejay drawing a crowd of nearly 40,000 people to Brooklyn, New York, at the Barclays Center.
This time last year, Kartel sat in a cell at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in Kingston, waiting for the day that the Court of Appeal would decide his fate. Now, the Grammy-nominated, history-making Portmore native stands at the pinnacle of Dancehall.
Thousands had flocked to the National Stadium on New Year’s Eve for Kartel’s Freedom Street concert. However, when the ticket prices for Kartel’s New York show at Reggae Fest were first announced, it was noted that the deejay was charging ‘Beyoncé prices’ for his concert.
Some expressed doubt if Kartel would be able to replicate Freedom Street’s success. To the doubters, Reggae Fest organiser CJ Milan had only one thing to say: “Put some respect on Dancehall’s name.”
This was declared by Milan after Kartel made history on Friday and Saturday as the first Dancehall artiste to sell out the Barclays Center, not just once but twice. Fans from all walks of life gathered at the Barclays Center to watch the ‘Worl Boss’ take to the stage in America for the first time in over two decades.
Attendees were not only comprised of the average person, with celebrities like Power actor Michael Rainey Jr., Cardi B, Elephant Man, Buju Banton, and Stefflon Don also attending the event. Cardi B reportedly expressed awe at the massive crowd Kartel was able to pull, stating, “(I’ve) never seen it (Barclays Center) this packed.”
The Bodak Yellow rapper later took to Instagram to express her delight further, writing, “What a night !!!! Ommmmggggg started well ended better ❤️💛💚.”
Fans at Reggae Fest were not only treated to Kartel’s extensive catalogue of hits but also to performances from the likes of Lil Kim, Jah Vinci, Shenseea, Rvssian, Kraff, Spice, Skillibeng, and New York rap icon Busta Rhymes.
Following the conclusion of Kartel’s historic concert, Busta Rhymes thanked Kartel in an Instagram post on Sunday for including him in the historic moment.
“THE BLESSINGS DON’T STOP SO WE WON’T EVER STOP!! WORL BOSS @vybzkartel THANKS FOR HAVING US PULL UP AND MAKE HISTORY AGAIN!! FIRST #FREEDOMSTREET JAMAICA NATIONAL STADIUM SOLD OUT!! TO THE RETURN OF @vybzkartel IN BROOKLYN, NY @barclayscenter ARENA 2 NIGHTS IN A ROW SOLD OUT!! CONGRATS AGAIN MI G!! MISSION SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED!!” Busta Rhymes wrote.
During the concert, Kartel was able to share the historic moment with former Portmore Empire member Blak Ryno. However, his protégé Popcaan was unable to attend.
Due to immigration issues, Popcaan, who was featured on Freedom Street, has never been able to travel to America. Nonetheless, he congratulated his mentor in an Instagram post on Monday.
“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 labor while representing the culture!!! More grace and blessings. It’s a historic moment,” Popcaan wrote.
In addition to his protégé, Kartel received praise from his own mentor, Bounty Killer, who said the Summer Time artiste had done what Jay Z had never accomplished.
“… Not even Jay Z ever sold out Barclays like that so any Jamaican not happy for this and the culture is certainly a vulture each one teach one to reach one do a little good if or whenever you can it definitely goes a long way folks his life is a true testimony that there’s a true and living God among us dancehall in it’s rightful space again right now if a nuh unity leave dancehall community,” Bounty stated
With his New York show successfully completed, Kartel is set to perform in Miami, Florida, in May and is scheduled to bring his Freedom Street concert to Europe later this year.
