Jamaican dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel has earned his third song certification in the United Kingdom, as Major Lazer’s 2009 hit Pon De Floor, featuring Kartel and Afrojack, has been certified Silver.
As of October 23, 2026, the track, released on July 6, 2009, has reached the equivalent of 200,000 units in combined sales and streams in the UK, according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
It is Kartel’s third song certification in the UK and first collaboration to become certified Silver.
The achievement comes amid renewed attention to Kartel’s early relationship with Grammy-winning producer Diplo, who recently revealed that the Jamaican entertainer played a pivotal role in his very first studio recording session.
Speaking on the January 6, 2026 episode of And The Writer Is… with Ross Golan, titled “Diplo | Branding Decides Who Wins,” the American producer recalled how an encounter with Kartel in Philadelphia helped set his musical career in motion years before Major Lazer became an internationally recognized brand.
“Like my first session ever was at Larry Gold Studios with Vybz Kartel,” Diplo revealed.
According to the producer, his fascination with Jamaican music began long before he achieved mainstream success. Having grown up in Florida, Diplo developed an appreciation for dancehall and its distinctive energy.
He recalled that Kartel had performed at a club in West Philadelphia, an area with a significant Jamaican community. Determined to work with the rising dancehall star, Diplo obtained his telephone number and arranged a recording session.
“Got Kartel’s number… rented the studio at Larry Gold’s. I rented Questlove’s room. It was like 500 bucks. For like three hours,” he recalled.
However, the session nearly ended without a recording.
Diplo said Kartel arrived just minutes before their allotted studio time expired.
“Three hours past, Vybz Kartel just show up. He shows up like 10 minutes before the session’s over.”
Despite the late arrival, Kartel wasted little time delivering a performance.
“That’s my first song ever recorded. We make a song, he just freestyles a song real quick. That’s my first song ever recorded,” Diplo explained.
The recording was “Diplo Rhythm,” which subsequently appeared on Diplo’s debut studio album, Florida, released through Big Dada in 2004. The album was later reissued in 2014 under the title F10rida, featuring 10 additional tracks and bonus commentary.
Produced by Major Lazer and Afrojack, the track helped bridge Jamaican dancehall with electronic dance music, reaching audiences far beyond the Caribbean.
Its influence also extended into mainstream pop music, with elements of Pon De Floor famously incorporated into Beyoncé’s 2011 hit Run the World (Girls).
