As Billboard continues its week-long rollout of The 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time: Staff List in daily batches of 20 songs, dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel has secured a coveted spot, becoming the second Jamaican artist on the list. This follows the earlier inclusion of the legendary Grace Jones, whose 1981 hit Pull Up to the Bumper landed at No. 82. Kartel’s feature on Pon de Floor, a high-energy track by Major Lazer and Afrojack, has been ranked at No. 60, solidifying dancehall’s global impact on the electronic music scene.
Released on August 3, 2009, Pon de Floor is a fusion of dancehall, Dutch house, and funk carioca, blending pulsating beats with Kartel’s signature raw vocals. The track gained international traction and later served as the foundation for Beyoncé’s 2011 anthem Run the World (Girls). Despite its underground club appeal, the song had modest chart success, peaking at No. 125 on the UK Singles Chart in April 2010. However, its influence far outweighed its chart position, as it became a staple in dance clubs worldwide and helped introduce mainstream audiences to dancehall-infused electronic music.
For Vybz Kartel, this recognition adds another accolade to his storied career. Often hailed as the “World Boss,” Kartel has amassed a massive digital footprint, boasting over 1.9 billion YouTube views and more than 4 million monthly Spotify listeners despite his incarceration and subsequent release. His ability to remain relevant in global music conversations is a testament to his undeniable influence on modern dancehall and beyond. Meanwhile, Major Lazer—led by Diplo—has been a dominant force in the electronic and dancehall fusion movement, racking up over 13 billion YouTube views and earning multiple platinum-certified hits.
Billboard’s acknowledgment of Pon de Floor underscores dancehall’s lasting impact on dance music history. With both Vybz Kartel and Grace Jones representing Jamaica on the prestigious list, their placements highlight the island’s unmatched ability to shape global music trends. Whether through Jones’ genre-bending disco-reggae fusion or Kartel’s infectious dancehall delivery, Jamaica’s influence on dance music remains undeniable.
