In a recent interview on the Dancehall Hot Seat podcast, dancehall artiste Flexx firmly expressed his perspective on the ongoing debate about the status of dancehall icons Mavado and Vybz Kartel. Flexx unequivocally declared Mavado as the superior artist, emphasizing the Gully Gad’s international recognition, particularly on the Billboard charts.
During the interview, Flexx questioned Vybz Kartel’s presence on the charts, asserting that Mavado is more widely known internationally, especially among the American audience. While acknowledging Vybz Kartel’s status as a dancehall giant and prolific lyricist, Flexx argued that Mavado’s enduring impact and the longevity of his songs in the genre position him as a more prominent and influential artist.
However, recent statistics published by Spotify, the Swedish streaming giant, reveal Vybz Kartel’s prominence as one of the “Top 10 Most Streamed Dancehall Artistes Globally.” In response, Kartel took to Instagram, subtly and humorously challenging Flexx’s claims by questioning where the supposed superiority lies regarding streaming numbers, as Mavado was noticeably absent from the chart. Captioning an image listing of the ‘Top 10’ acts he wrote,
“Di man weh him say bigga dan Kartel, a weh him a stream? In a literal stream? Or a pond? ..or a river?”
Gaza loyalist and fellow entertainer Shawn Storm joined the conversation in the comments, dismissing those who claim to “run” dancehall without a presence on the streaming charts. He emphatically declared Vybz Kartel as the “KING-OF-DANCEHALL,” indirectly addressing other artists, possibly including Alkaline and Masicka, who assert themselves as leaders in the new wave of dancehall.
His comment read, “Yo di clown dem wah seh dem “run” dancehall weh di fck dem deh? Can’t see dem pon dah chart yah it look like dem just a run dem mouth????? @vybzkartel is di KING-OF-DANCEHALL. believe mi nuh!!!!”
The exchange underscores the ongoing dialogue about the hierarchy within the dancehall genre, with artists leveraging streaming data to support their claims and challenge perceived rivals and fan perceptions.
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