Dancehall King Kartel said he has already submitted a petition for a United States visa to attend the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in February, where his EP Party With Me is nominated for Best Reggae Album.
Reflecting on his career and potential to snatch the prestigious musical accolade, Kartel expressed both gratitude and understanding: “I am grateful, but I am not surprised. If I wasn’t incarcerated, I would have already been nominated [for a Grammy] because why would they want to nominate a dude in prison? I get it. Based on the amount of songs I’ve put out and the trajectory I was on, I would have probably won. So I am very grateful.”
From behind bars Kartel released his critically acclaimed album King Of The Dancehall which spawned the summer hit “Fever.” The song has since been certified Gold in the U.S. for sales and streams surpassing 500,000 units by the Recording Industry Association Of America. It is also BritCertified Silver in the U.K. by the British Phonographic Industry for sales and streams surpassing 200,000 units. Making him the first independent dancehall artist to reach both milestones with a solo song.
Kartel was arrested and charged, and convicted for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams in 2011. On March 14, 2024, the U.K.’s Privy Council overturned the verdict and sent it back for a decision to be made on a retrial in the Jamaica Court Of Appeal. The Court Of Appeal freed Kartel and his three co-accused on July 31, 2024.
The Dancehall hitmaker made a triumphant return to the stage with his highly anticipated “Freedom Street” comeback concert on December 31, captivating a packed audience at Jamaica’s National Stadium. This momentous event mirrored Buju Banton’s own historic comeback concert at the same venue in March 2019, following his release from prison after a drug conviction and deportation in 2018. A multiple Grammy nominee and Roc Nation signee, Banton had his visa reinstated earlier this year through a special waiver.
Kartel, who will turn 49 tomorrow (January 7,) says he believes that dancehall music stalled when he was incarcerated in 2011 but acknowledges that his absence paved the way for new artists to rise. “Yes, but it also opened a portal for the new artists,” Kartel told Billboard. “It took a minute because Vybz Kartel’s presence is powerful. Maybe by 2016, new artists started moving out one by one, and by 2020, the floodgates opened.”
Kartel was the top-streaming dancehall artist on YouTube in Jamaica for four consecutive years leading up to 2022 when he was dethroned by Chronic Law. This year, he ranks third behind Masicka and Chronic Law at the top.
Commenting on the current state of dancehall, Kartel noted: “Dancehall artists now do what they call Trap Dancehall. I think it’s going to take a minute for the big markets to adapt, but once that happens, I think it will work.”
He continued, “Music is always changing. It’s the kids’ time now, so once the sound catches on in London, New York, or Toronto, I think it will find success.”
