Vybz Kartel delivered a historic moment in dancehall history with his first American performance in over two decades, lighting up Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in front of a star-studded crowd. With celebrities like Cardi B, Safaree, and more spotted partying in the crowd, the atmosphere was electric from the jump.
The show marks a major comeback for the Jamaican icon, who’s wasted no time reestablishing himself since his release from prison last summer. Following the overturning of his murder conviction in March 2024 due to juror misconduct, Kartel quickly declared that his return to the U.S. stage would be, in his own words, “a monumental moment for me and the culture.” And he delivered.
The performance was packed with decades of hits, cultural anthems, and deep cuts that had the Barclays crowd moving nonstop. If there was ever any doubt about Kartel’s place in global music, this show erased it — proving he’s not only back, but ready to take things further than ever.
