Jamaican-American rapper Busta Rhymes, Ghanaian Afrobeats superstar Shatta Wale, Spice, Jada Kingdom, and Jamaican-American podcaster DJ Akademiks are among the celebrities who have touched down in Kingston within the past 24 hours for Vybz Kartel’s highly anticipated Freedom Street concert.
Scheduled for December 31 at the National Stadium, the event celebrates the iconic dancehall artist’s release from prison after serving 13 years.
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Freedom Street lineup
The concert boasts a lineup that reads like a who’s who of the music world. Alongside Kartel, fans can expect stellar performances from Jamaican dancehall heavyweights including Bounty Killer, Popcaan, Spice, Skillibeng, Chronic Law, Tommy Lee Sparta, Jah Vinci, and Shawn Storm. Also gracing the stage are Lisa Hyper, Gaza Indu, Sheba, and Kartel’s sons, Likkle Vybz and Likkle Addi.
Internationally, Shatta Wale and Busta Rhymes headline the list of non-Jamaican performers, while Kartel has teased surprise appearances by a “popular artist from Canada” and a “renowned female rapper.”
Masicka, originally slated to perform, recently withdrew due to prior commitments.
Kingston hotels at full capacity
The excitement surrounding the concert has also sparked a surge in hotel bookings across Kingston, with many establishments reaching full occupancy.
Christopher Jarrett, chairman of the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association’s Kingston chapter, noted that the event has brought unprecedented demand for accommodations during the festive season.
“In fact, it was being discussed and anticipated earlier on in the year that there would likely be a shortage of hotel rooms,” Jarrett told The Gleaner. He confirmed that his hotel, the Altamont Court, reached 100% occupancy in the days leading up to and including the night of the concert.
Other major hotels, such as The Jamaica Pegasus and the AC Hotel, have reported similar spikes in bookings. Pegasus general manager Brian Sang attributed the surge to “the most anticipated concert of the year,” while AC Hotel’s Koen Hietbrink noted that bookings were made well in advance, even before tickets went on sale.
The influx of visitors has also extended to the Airbnb market, accommodating overflow demand. With many typically heading to Jamaica’s north coast for year-end festivities, the Freedom Street concert has turned Kingston into the island’s hottest destination to close out 2024.
As excitement builds, the concert promises to be a historic celebration, solidifying Kartel’s impact on dancehall and showcasing Jamaica’s vibrant music culture on a global stage.
