Vybz Kartel has been crowned King of Dancehall. In the early hours of Saturday, July 19, 2025, on Festival Night One of Reggae Sumfest at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex in Montego Bay, Spice — the festival’s reigning Queen — placed a crown on his head as he sat on a white-and-gold throne.

It was Kartel’s first Sumfest performance since 2011 and his first time on a Jamaican stage since his Freedom Street concert at the National Stadium in December, DancehallMag notes. The Jamaica Observer reported the venue full to capacity long before the headline acts, calling it a record-breaking crowd.

The set

Dressed in a black, green and gold Jamaica football jersey, Kartel opened with “MoBay Anthem” and ran for about an hour. The early stretch went to the Gaza faithful — “Weh Dem Feel Like,” “Broad Daylight,” “Nuh Fraid,” “Hustle the Money,” “Empire Army” — before turning to “Dumpa Truck,” “Come Home,” “Love Dem,” “Virginity,” “Beg You a Touch,” “Bicycle” and more, per the Observer and the Gleaner. Dancer Dyema Attitude, Ishawna and Spice joined him on stage; he and Spice ran through “Romping Shop,” “Back Way” and “Conjugal Visit” together. He closed on “God Is the Greatest.”

The crowning

Spice returned in a royal blue gown and her own crown. “Jamaica, you have spoken and we have heard you, so I stand here tonight on behalf of Jamaica, Reggae Sumfest, and the whole world to honour the legacy of Adidja Azim Palmer,” she said, as quoted by the Observer. “You are a legend, the blueprint, dancehall navel string. You have given us some of the biggest anthems in dancehall history.” Kartel was offered a choice of two crowns, each presented on a pillow.

“People, me affi big up Bounty Killa. If a never fi him, me wouldn’t deh yah. And me affi big up you the fans, cause you put me here,” Kartel told the crowd, adding thanks to Buju Banton and Ninja Man and a nod to Beenie Man as “the former king.” Beenie Man received Sumfest’s symbolic King of Dancehall title in 2009; Lady Saw was crowned Queen in 2012 and Spice in 2022.

Ahead of the show, Kartel had called the coronation a formality. “I’ve been the king before I went to prison, and the record is there to show,” he said. “What really is exciting for me is to perform for Jamaicans. One Jamaica, one dancehall.”

The rest of the night

The Observer’s verdict was that dancehall itself was the winner of Festival Night One, with Masicka, Govana, Skeng, Shaneil Muir, Jamal and Tommy Lee Sparta all delivering, and D’Yani, Harry Toddler and Laden rounding out the bill. Since his release Kartel has played the National Stadium, Barclays Center in New York, Miami and London’s Wireless Festival alongside Drake; DancehallMag lists Reggae Fest Baltimore on July 26 and Barclays Center on August 29 as his next dates.

Listen and dig deeper

Sources: Jamaica Gleaner — “Kartel crowned” (July 19, 2025); Jamaica Observer — “Kartel effect triggers record-breaking Sumfest crowd” (July 20, 2025); DancehallMag — “Vybz Kartel Crowned King Of Dancehall At Reggae Sumfest” (July 19, 2025).

Editor’s note: This story is part of an archive backfill covering Jamaican music news from 2022 to 2026. It is dated to the events it reports.