Vybz Kartel announces ‘Worl’ Boss Summer 2025 Tour’ as he returns to global stage

After more than a decade off the road, Vybz Kartel is back—and taking his act international. The dancehall star, who was released from prison last summer following the overturn of his 2014 murder conviction, has announced his Worl’ Boss Summer 2025 Tour, with performances scheduled across the U.S., Europe, and the Caribbean.

The tour comes as Kartel releases a new single, “Pretty Girl”, a breezy, percussion-driven track produced by Now or Never Miami. The accompanying video—directed by Rizzy—is as bright and stylized as the song itself, centering around Kartel’s well-established admiration for women. It’s his first release under Defiant Records, the new label from music executive Steven ‘Steve-O’ Carless.

The track leans into a more pop-oriented sound, perhaps signaling Kartel’s intent to appeal to a broader, global audience as he re-establishes himself in the live arena. Whether “Pretty Girl” becomes a summer anthem remains to be seen, but it arrives at a time when Kartel is clearly trying to shift his narrative—from incarcerated icon to international headliner.

The tour is already underway, having kicked off in the U.S. with shows in Brooklyn and Miami—his first stateside performances in more than 20 years, following the reinstatement of his U.S. visa earlier this year. Thousands turned out to see him at the Barclays Center in April, followed by a packed show at Miami’s Amerant Bank Arena on May 17.

Kartel’s camp has since announced additional U.S. stops in Atlanta, Atlantic City, and Baltimore, along with major dates in Europe—including a slot at London’s Wireless Festival, a headliner show at The O2 Arena, and appearances in Paris, Amsterdam, and Cologne. On the Caribbean leg, Kartel is booked for Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica, the St. Kitts Music Festival, and One Caribbean Music Festival in Trinidad. The tour also includes a September appearance at Malta’s Freedom Street Europe Festival.

It’s a significant pivot for an artist whose career has long existed at the intersection of creativity and controversy. Since the early 2000s, Vybz Kartel, born Adidja Palmer, has been one of the most influential voices in dancehall. Tracks like “Clarks,” “Summertime,” and “Romping Shop” helped define a generation of Jamaican music, and his influence extends through younger acts like Popcaan and Shaun Storm.

But his rise was interrupted in 2011 when he was arrested and later convicted for murder, a conviction he maintained was unjust and which was overturned in 2024 by the UK-based Privy Council. Even during his incarceration, Kartel managed to remain musically active, releasing multiple albums and singles from behind bars, including the U.S. gold-certified hit “Fever.”

Now back in the spotlight, Kartel is already making headlines—some celebratory, some cautious. Still, there’s no denying the cultural weight of Kartel’s return. Since his release, he’s received a MOBO Impact Award, earned a Grammy nomination, and appeared on the cover of Billboard. His 2023 album Viking: 10th Year Anniversary and viral moments with online creators like Kai Cenat have only added fuel to the fire.

In a statement about the tour, Kartel said: “The summer is ours, and we are ready to take the world by storm—more passport stamps, more ‘Pretty Girls’ and endless possibilities.”

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Whether this marks a full-fledged comeback or the start of a carefully curated rebrand, one thing is certain: Vybz Kartel remains a commanding presence in dancehall, both at home and abroad.