Vybz Kartel makes history with emotional, sold-out return to New York
Historic. Emotional. Unprecedented. Those are just a few of the words being used to describe the triumphant return of Vybz Kartel to the U.S. stage after 20 years—and his first performance since regaining his American visa in January.
2025-04-14 14:43:17 - VI News Staff
The “King of Dancehall” made his long-awaited comeback with two back-to-back, sold-out shows at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on April 10 and 11, each pulling in a crowd of around 19,000 fans.
Presented by Reggae Fest, the two-night event wasn’t just another tour stop—it was a coronation. Vybz Kartel is now the first dancehall artist to sell out Barclays Center, and he did it twice in a row, cementing his place in music history.
But beyond the numbers, the venue itself added deeper meaning. Brooklyn has long been one of the beating hearts of Caribbean culture in the U.S.—home to generations of Jamaicans, Trinidadians, Haitians, Guyanese, and other communities that grew up on dancehall, reggae, and soca. Add to that the African-American audience that has always embraced Jamaican sound system culture, and you get a borough where Kartel’s music has never stopped playing, even during his time behind bars. Performing at Barclays wasn’t just about filling seats—it was about touching the core of the diaspora.
Night one had the energy of a homecoming and the emotional weight of a redemption arc. After serving 13 years in prison, Kartel—freed just last year—took the stage with a new sense of purpose. He told fans he’s changed, putting God and family first. That sentiment came to life when he got visibly emotional during the performance of his latest track, God Is the Greatest. “Far mi a come from, what a journey, good thing, God got me,” he sang, fighting back tears.