Vybz Kartel Tickets

The undisputed king of dancehall makes his return to stages this summer

Born as Adidja Palmer in Portmore, Jamaica, Vybz Kartel has been a distinct voice cutting through the noise in contemporary dancehall since his rise to prominence in the early 00s, with the release of his debut album, Up 2 Di Time (2003). His delivery is braggadocious yet equally sensual and passionate; his sound is influenced by elements of reggae and R&B, yet just as comfortable being the soundtrack for the difficulties faced by working class communities in his hometown. "Worl' Boss" is the voice of the people.

First cutting his teeth in music in the the 90s under the name Adi Banton, it wasn't until he was taken under the mentorship of dancehall singer Bounty Killer, writing songs for him and artists on his management roster, that Vybz Kartel started to gain traction in the scene. After the releases of his solo singles, including 'Guns Like Me' and 'Badman', and the releases of 2003's Up 2 Di Time, 2004's Timeless and More Up 2 Di Time, Kartel's dancehall catapulted him into more international markets, earning collaborations with Missy Elliott, Beenie Man and Rihanna, working with US-based producers, and earning a MOBO nomination.

But alongside his rise to stardom in the 2000s, with breakout singles 'Clarks' (2009), 'Virginity' (2009), 'Romping Shop' (2009), and Major Lazer collab 'Pon De Floor' (2009), Kartel was caught up in major feuds with former mentor Bounty Killer, and with fellow dancehall singer Mavado. The latter feud inspired a slew of diss tracks back and forth, with fans of Kartel taking on team "Gaza", while fans of Mavado took on team "Gully". However, tensions between the Gaza and Gully rose so high that it inspired actual gang violence in Jamaica, which saw the Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding calling both artists to discuss peace talks.

Following an eventful 2009, Kartel released Pon Di Gaza 2.0 in 2010 and Kingston Story in 2011, both to acclaim, before his arrest in 2012 and and consequent incarceration in 2014. While serving his sentence, he was still granted permission to release music from prison, with his album King of the Dancehall released in 2016. The album's single 'Fever' went on to be one of Vybz Kartel's most popular songs, earning the No.2 spot on the Billboard Reggae Chart.

After his sentence was overturned in March of 2024, Kartel released his mixtape First Week Out, before his triumphant return to the stage with a surprise performance alongside Spice at the 2025 MOBO awards. He announced 2025 shows at Wireless Festival in London, DLT Malta, and a headline UK tour which kicks off this September.

Laatste update: mei 2025