In a city best known for its casinos, shopping, and boardwalk shorelines, Vybz Kartel brought his own brand of dancehall fire to Boardwalk Hall on Saturday night—and lit up the venue with what may be the most defining performance of his career.
With a 9:00 p.m. start time on the schedule, security bottlenecks kept thousands of eager fans streaming into Boardwalk Hall well past 9:30.
Warming up the crowd during the delay, Power 105’s DJ Nore and a lineup of other DJs dropped dancehall bangers that turned anticipation into energy. DJ Envy and Angela Yee made brief appearances to welcome the audience before Kartel’s MC-turned-DJ, Nuffy, in true Jamaican fashion, cleared the stage for the main event.
When the Worl’ Boss finally appeared at 9:56 p.m., the short delay no longer mattered—it felt like buildup by design. What followed was a blistering 75-minute performance that stood as his strongest concert showing to date.
Draped in a jeweled “New Jersey #5” basketball jersey, ice-laced chains, and ornate denim covered in shimmering rhinestone embroidery, Kartel looked every bit the global superstar in his own style. He powered through a high-energy, lyrics-driven set packed with fan favorites and deep cuts from his catalog—all without missing a beat or breaking breath control. His performance—spanning over 70 songs (before we stopped counting)—included massive hits like Love Dem/Gallis Anthem, Fever, Summertime, Clarks, and Freaky Gyal, all fitted into a new, re-ordered set that kept the energy fresh and the crowd on their feet from start to finish.
At show number five of the 2025 World Boss Tour, Kartel is now in full command of his pacing and delivery—his airtight breath control and razor-sharp timing kept the audience locked into his world.
Dancehall diva Ishawna joined Kartel on stage for a fiery two-song set, paving the way for the night’s most explosive moment—the entrance of the Queen of the Dancehall, Spice. Wearing a royal blue, skin-tight, crystal-embellished bodysuit with matching hair, Spice turned up the voltage with their Billboard hit Ramping Shop. The chemistry between the two remains a crowd favorite, and for the first time, their performance culminated in a provocative lap dance and an onstage kiss that sent the audience into a frenzy.
Kartel, never one to let a moment pass without impact, turned to Spice with a sly grin:
“Hey lady, If you don’t want me kiss you don’t put your face so close,” he teased, as the roar echoed across the venue.
And just when the crowd thought the surprises were done, Blak Ryno appeared—a former Portmore Empire protégé whose cameo sparked one of the loudest reactions of the night. Launching into his verse with his signature melodic aggression, Ryno reminded fans why his name still rings loud in dancehall lore.
Kartel’s set ended abruptly—his microphone cut at the 75-minute mark, a hard stop that felt almost poetic. No encore. No slow fade. Just a sea of fans left breathless, chanting his name beneath the soaring ceilings of Boardwalk Hall.
If there was ever any doubt about Kartel’s reign as dancehall’s king, Saturday night silenced it. He delivered not just spectacle, but substance—blending nostalgia with renewed fire and proving once again that the Worl’ Boss is carrying the genre on his back.
