Montego Bay, Jamaica — It’s now official: Vybz Kartel, born Adidjah Palmer, has been topped the King of Dancehall. The historic second passed off throughout the thirty second staging of Reggae Sumfest at Catherine Corridor in Montego Bay—marking 13 years since Kartel final carried out on the competition.
The crowning occurred simply after 3 a.m. on Saturday morning. In a symbolic and emotional second, Queen of Dancehall Spice positioned the crown on Kartel’s head, with Downsound Leisure CEO and Sumfest founder Joe Bogdanovich becoming a member of within the presentation.
Kartel’s high-energy, one-hour efficiency included crowd favorites akin to Fever, Romping Store (with Spice), MoBay Anthem, My Scheme, Ship Fi Mi Military, Greenback Signal, Bike Again, Actual Gallis, Love Dem, and his newest hit God Is the Best, which closed his set in becoming style.
In his acceptance speech, Kartel paid tribute to the artists who paved the way in which, saying:
“Folks, me affi large up Bounty Killa. If a by no means fi him, me wouldn’t deh yah.”
He additionally expressed gratitude to Gargamel Buju Banton and Ninjaman for uplifting him in his early years, and gave a nod to Beenie Man—although not with out cheek—by referring to him because the “former King of Dancehall.”
Each of Kartel’s longtime companions, Tanesha “Shorty” Johnson and Stacy Elliott, have been current for the crowning. Spice wasn’t the one visitor artist—Kartel additionally introduced out Ishawna for a shock two-song set, together with their newest collab Woof.
Social media influencer Jerry McDonald of FACEVU.IMAGES referred to as the group, “the most important crowd I’ve seen at Reggae Sumfest in all of the years I’ve been attending,” and congratulated Kartel on the main milestone.
Reggae Sumfest continues tonight with performances from R&B icon Toni Braxton, Tarrus Riley, Protoje, Lila Iké, I Wayne, Strain Busspipe, Bugle, and Fantan Mojah.
