After over a decade in prison, Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel is making a triumphant return to the stage with a New Year’s Eve concert at Kingston’s National Stadium. The event, anticipated to draw a crowd of around 35,000, marks Kartel’s first performance since his release in July following an overturned murder conviction.
This concert is significant because an entire generation has never witnessed a live Vybz Kartel performance, as he noted in an interview with The New York Times. He further amplified the anticipation in an interview with The Gleaner, a Jamaican newspaper, promising a spectacle comparable to an NFL Super Bowl halftime show.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(763×231:765×233)/Vybz-Kartel-080124-tout-76faa2902663495da8227c8977898ad3.jpg)
Kartel described the stage setup as a “four-corner, almost 360 stage vibe,” highlighting the impressive lighting, sound, lasers, and planned surprises. He emphasized the world-class production, invoking Madonna’s level of showmanship, urging fans not to miss this unique experience.
Kartel’s musical influence extends beyond Jamaica, with collaborations with international stars like Eminem and Rihanna. His prolific output, even while incarcerated, earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album in 2025 for “Party with Me,” released in May.
The 48-year-old artist, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, was initially convicted in 2014 for the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams and sentenced to life imprisonment. According to the BBC, the case revolved around two unlicensed guns allegedly given to Williams and another man by Kartel. A dispute over the missing firearms led to Williams’ death, though his body was never recovered.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(950×498:952×500)/Vybz-Kartel-during-The-Official-Welcome-Back-Concert-NYC-123024-tout-73fb7947c6ef4dcc9a73ecfb8ed0fd14.jpg)
Kartel’s conviction was overturned in March by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London due to alleged juror misconduct, specifically an anonymous juror attempting to bribe others, as reported by The New York Times. The Jamaican appeals court subsequently decided against a retrial in July, considering Kartel’s health struggles with Graves’ disease and allegations of inhumane prison conditions, according to Fox 5 New York. This New Year’s Eve concert symbolizes not only a musical comeback but also a significant turning point in Kartel’s life and career.
