Vybz Kartel Prepares for Sumfest Crowning: “I’ve Been the King, the Record Is There to Show”

Kartel is set to perform in Jamaica for the first time since the iconic Freedom Street concert, with Reggae Sumfest crowning him the King of Dancehall. But as he echoed, “The record is there to show—for me, what’s really exciting is performing for Jamaicans. One Jamaica, one dancehall.”

Vybz Kartel back in his homeland

Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel has returned to Jamaica ahead of his regal homecoming performance at Reggae Sumfest on Friday night, marking his first local stage appearance since the iconic Freedom Street concert on New Year’s Eve.

Kartel, who has been touring the world for months, landed at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on Thursday as preparations for Friday’s grand coronation reached fever pitch.

Wearing a Reggae Boyz jersey, Kartel is set to be officially crowned King of Dancehall by the Queen of Dancehall, Spice. But for the Worl’ Boss, the moment carries a deeper meaning. “I’ve been the King from before I went to prison and the record is there to show. So that’s [the crowning] good and fine, but for me, what’s really exciting is performing for Jamaicans. One Jamaica, one dancehall. Never forget,” he said, holding up a bottle of his own Str8 Vybz Rum.

Kartel, who last graced the Reggae Sumfest stage in 2011, is now set to return to the Caribbean’s biggest reggae festival after more than 14 years. He will be officially crowned King of Dancehall before what is expected to be a sold-out crowd.

This will be no ordinary performance, it will be a regal affair. Marking his first appearance in Jamaica since his triumphant Freedom Street concert in December, the moment holds deep meaning for both the artiste and his fans.

Since his release from prison nearly a year ago, Kartel has been commanding stages both locally and internationally. Following a blockbuster comeback at the National Stadium in Kingston, where over 30,000 fans gathered, he went on to headline back-to-back sold-out shows at the Barclays Center in New York. With follow-up performances in Miami and, most recently, in front of over 50,000 fans at Wireless Festival in London, Kartel has reaffirmed his place at the pinnacle of dancehall’s global influence.

Vybz Kartel, returns to Jamaica ahead of his highly anticipated coronation at Reggae Sumfest.

The Worl’ Boss is set to continue touring in the coming months. Next week, he’s slated to headline the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, followed by back-to-back shows at the iconic O2 Arena in London on September 4 and 5. He will then host his own three-day Freedom Street Europe festival from September 11–14, before returning to the UK for shows in Birmingham and Manchester.

With demand at an all-time high, reports indicate that the undisputed King of Dancehall is planning to close out the year with a series of shows across Africa, including stops in Ghana, Kenya, and more.