For the primary time in twenty years, the King of Dancehall, Vybz Kartel, carried out in Florida—marking a significant milestone in his comeback journey. The present, held Saturday, Could 17, 2025, at Amerant Financial institution Enviornment, drew a large crowd, filling the 20,000-capacity venue.
Kartel confirmed it was a sold-out occasion—his third consecutive worldwide sold-out live performance, following back-to-back April performances at Brooklyn’s Barclays Heart. The Florida cease was monumental, on condition that South Florida is residence to one of many largest Jamaican and Caribbean communities within the U.S. 1000’s of Jamaican natives and different Caribbean nationals confirmed out in full drive.
The evening featured a star-studded lineup of visitor appearances, together with DJ Khaled, who has been regularly noticed with Kartel round Florida because the dancehall artist regained his U.S. visa earlier this yr. Rapper Offset, producer Rvssian, and Jamaican artists Wayne Marvel and Stefflon Don additionally joined him on stage.
One of the emotional moments got here when Kartel introduced out Main Myjah, the son of legendary deejay Bounty Killer, who has lengthy been a mentor determine in Kartel’s life. Bounty later shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, writing: “Organic and musical sons. Blessings pan blessings.”
The efficiency is a 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 additionally slated to carry out at main festivals throughout the Caribbean, together with Reggae Sumfest, and in Europe, the place he’ll seem at Wi-fi Competition in July, sharing the invoice with Drake.
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In April, Vybz Kartel confirmed throughout an interview on The Breakfast Membership that he’s now living in Florida, marking a dramatic new chapter after spending 13 years in jail. When requested whether or not Jamaica nonetheless felt like residence, Kartel chuckled, saying, “After all not,” and emphasised that he now calls the U.S. residence. “I reside right here [in the United States], I reside in Florida.”
He defined that Florida’s location made it a strategic base for each his profession and way of life. “Florida is nice as a result of it’s a hub—you possibly can go to New York, you possibly can go throughout the Atlantic, go to England, go west, you’re in LA,” he stated. “It’s a pleasant place to be geographically, the place we are able to simply transfer.”
Now free, relocated, and reignited, Vybz Kartel’s comeback has already been one of many largest dancehall tales of the last decade.
