Dancehall star Vybz Kartel made a triumphant return to the stage on New Year's Eve, with a sold-out show marking his first live appearance in over a decade. The Jamaican artist was joined at the Freedom Street event by a host of artists, including Busta Rhymes, Popcaan, Spice, and Shatta Wale. Check out clips from the show below.
The December 31 concert, held at the 35,000-person capacity National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, was Kartel's first show in 13 years. He was released from prison in July 2024 having served over a decade for murder. Speaking to the New York Times, the artist remarked on the changes he expected to see in his audience, stating: “The importance of this concert is a whole generation of people have never seen Vybz Kartel perform."
Kartel was convicted in the 2011 death of Clive Williams in a trial that was one of the longest in Jamaican history. His sentence was overturned last summer following of allegations of jury misconduct with the Jamaican Court of Appeals electing not to retry the case.
Thumbnail image via YouTube.
