Vybz Kartel returns: Dancehall icon rocks sold-out South Florida arena
Key Points(5)
- The Florida stop was monumental, given that South Florida is home to one of the largest Jamaican and Caribbean communities in the U.S.
- visa earlier this year.
- Bounty later shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJz-gZotOVY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">writing</a>: <em data-start="1272" data-end="1329">"Biological and musical sons.
- Blessings pan blessings."</em></p> <p class="" data-start="1331" data-end="1697">The performance is part of Kartel’s newly launched U.S.
- tour, with upcoming dates set for Atlanta (June 6), New Jersey (June 14), and Baltimore (July 26).
For the first time in two decades, the King of Dancehall, Vybz Kartel, performed in Florida—marking a major milestone in his comeback journey. The show, held Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Amerant Bank Arena, drew a massive crowd, filling the 20,000-capacity venue.
Kartel confirmed it was a sold-out event—his third consecutive international sold-out concert, following back-to-back April performances at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The Florida stop was monumental, given that South Florida is home to one of the largest Jamaican and Caribbean communities in the U.S. Thousands of Jamaican natives and other Caribbean nationals showed out in full force.
The night featured a star-studded lineup of guest appearances, including DJ Khaled, who has been frequently spotted with Kartel around Florida since the dancehall artist regained his U.S. visa earlier this year. Rapper Offset, producer Rvssian, and Jamaican artists Wayne Wonder, Gyptian, and Stefflon Don also joined him on stage.
One of the most emotional moments came when Kartel brought out Major Myjah, the son of legendary deejay Bounty Killer, who has long been a mentor figure in Kartel’s life. Bounty later shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, writing: "Biological and musical sons. Blessings pan blessings."
The performance is part of Kartel’s newly launched U.S. tour, with upcoming dates set for Atlanta (June 6), New Jersey (June 14), and Baltimore (July 26). He’s also slated to perform at major festivals across the Caribbean, including Reggae Sumfest, and in Europe, where he’ll appear at Wireless Festival in July, sharing the bill with Drake.
In April, Vybz Kartel confirmed during an interview on The Breakfast Club that he is now living in Florida, marking a dramatic new chapter after spending 13 years in prison. When asked whether Jamaica still felt like home, Kartel chuckled, saying, “Of course not,” and emphasized that he now calls the U.S. home. “I live here , I live in Florida.”
He explained that Florida’s location made it a strategic base for both his career and lifestyle. “Florida is good because it’s a hub—you can go to New York, you can go across the Atlantic, go to England, go west, you’re in LA,” he said. “It’s a nice place to be geographically, where we can just move.”
Now free, relocated, and reignited, Vybz Kartel’s comeback has already been one of the biggest dancehall stories of the decade.
