Despite their friendship remaining fractured, dancehall heavyweights Vybz Kartel and Aidonia have shown mutual respect for each other’s lyrical prowess. Vybz Kartel, during a recent appearance on The Brando Music Review Show, included Aidonia in his list of Top 5 Lyricists in dancehall. This came after Aidonia, on several occasions, acknowledged both himself and Kartel as two of the most potent lyricists in the genre. Their latest recognition of each other’s talent highlights their undeniable impact on dancehall, even as their personal relationship remains strained.
Kartel’s top five list featured himself, Chronic Law, Skillibeng, Assassin, and Aidonia, with Kartel admitting that such praise doesn’t come easily. “Mi nuh gi weh praises suh… mi woulda put Donia inna it,” Kartel said, a significant acknowledgement given their fractured history. He further described a true lyricist as someone who can “amaze people with him words” and make listeners “sidung, shake yuh head and seh bombocl**t,” revealing the high bar he sets for lyricism in the genre.
As Kartel gears up for his much-anticipated Freedom Street concert on New Year’s Eve at the National Stadium, Aidonia continues to make international strides ahead of a significant milestone in his career—next year will mark 20 years since he made his foray into dancehall. While their paths may differ, the mutual respect between these two giants only reaffirms their legacies as some of the most revered figures in the industry.
