When Vybz Kartel left prison after 13 years, some questioned if the deejay could return to prominence amid a rise in trap Dancehall and an apparent decline in global interest in the Jamaican genre. However, just a little over a year since his release from prison last summer, Kartel continues to make historic achievements with his global performances.
The Fever deejay made history on Friday, as he became the first Dancehall artiste to sell out the Barclays Center in Brooklyn three times in less than a year. The milestone comes months after his first historic moment earlier this year at his first American headlining concert in over two decades at the same venue.
Kartel accomplished the historic feat with two consecutive sold-out shows in April, first on the 10th and then on the 11th at Reggae Fest. Each one of the Reggae Fest shows drew nearly 19,000 fans to the Barclays Centre each day.
Per Kaboom Magazine, the concerts grossed $8.4 million, which saw Kartel setting a new record for the highest-grossing arena concert by a solo Jamaican Dancehall artiste in U.S. history. Kartel’s three sold-out concerts see him join an exclusive club of global entertainers, including Beyonce, Madonna, Rihanna, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, and Jay Z, who sold out the Barclays Center eight consecutive times.
In addition to his sold-out Barclays’ concerts in America, Kartel’s achievements also extend into Europe, with the deejay becoming the first Dancehall artiste to headline and sell out London’s O2 Arena. Fans will be treated to back-to-back performances on September 4 and September 5.
All 20,000 tickets for the first concert have already been sold out. In regard to Kartel’s latest music news, his new surprise EP Heart & Soul debuted at No. 7 on the U.S. iTunes Reggae Albums chart.
Additionally, his collaborative DJ Khaled-produced track You Remind Me featuring the likes of Buju Banton and Mavado secured No.1 on the U.S. iTunes Reggae Songs Chart.
