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.
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.
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The lineup for night one was stacked: Dyani, Jah Vinchi, Rvssian, and Blak Ryno (who notably missed Kartel’s Freedom Street show in Jamaica) delivered great performances. Busta Rhymes and Spice lit up the stage, while big names like Dexta Daps, Elephant Man, Stefflon Don, Buju Banton, and Cardi B, among others, looked on from the crowd and joined Kartel backstage. It was Cardi who later put the scale of the night into perspective, saying, “(I’ve) never seen it (Barclays Center) this packed.”
Night two pushed the envelope even further. Lil’ Kim, Fabolous, and Neyo all joined Kartel, with Neyo delivering his hit Miss Independent—a nod to Kartel’s own remix of the track with Romping Shop. In addition to some of the musical acts who performed on night one, YG Marley, Kraff, Chronic Law, Kranium, Ishawna, and Skillibeng helped amplify the night’s intensity.
Shenseea also hit the stage for the first time with Vybz Kartel to perform Loodi, the breakout single he wrote for her. Ghanaian star Moliy also stunned with her viral hit Shake It to the Max, sharing the stage with Shenseea and Skillibeng. Popcaan, who couldn’t attend due to visa issues, still made a cameo via FaceTime as Kartel performed their classic collab Clarks.
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Both nights featured one of the most touching moments of the entire concert: Kartel bringing out his mother onstage to honor her with the song Mama. The crowd roared in appreciation for the woman behind the man.
The entire dancehall community felt the magnitude of the moment. Bounty Killer took to Instagram to offer praise:
“God’s work never been done by no other dancehall artiste b4—back to back sold out shows same city. Don’t say Buju bcuz he’s now a reggae artiste. Not even Jay-Z ever sold out Barclays like that… His life is a true testimony that there’s a true and living God among us. Dancehall in its rightful space again right now. If it’s not unity, leave dancehall community 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾”
What Vybz Kartel did at Barclays wasn’t just a record-breaking comeback. It was a full-circle moment. A celebration of resilience, legacy, and the power of music to transcend even the darkest chapters. And for two unforgettable nights in Brooklyn, dancehall was the heartbeat of the city.
