Dancehall is on the brink of a symbolic and seismic shift. This Friday at Reggae Sumfest, Vybz Kartel—arguably the genre’s most prolific and polarising figure—will be officially crowned the King of Dancehall, closing a 16-year chapter that began with Beenie Man’s coronation in 2009. While Beenie’s title sparked debate and division, Kartel’s moment is being framed as destiny fulfilled. “Vybz Kartel is now the new king, the best of Jamaica,” declared festival promoter Joe Bogdanovich. “King comes, and king goes. His time is now.”
The coronation ceremony promises to be both symbolic and historic. In a reversal of the traditional crowning dynamic, reigning Queen of Dancehall Spice will bestow the title upon Kartel, signalling not just a transfer of power but a progressive reimagining of dancehall royalty. “We will be flipping the script. This time around, it will be the queen crowning the king,” Bogdanovich explained, emphasising the moment’s cultural weight. Kartel will take the stage at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay, leading a heavyweight lineup including Masicka, Skeng, and Tommy Lee Sparta.
Entertainment commentator Darrielle ‘Trippple X’ Cummings, weighing in on the upcoming coronation, dismissed any lingering doubts about Kartel’s legitimacy. “Asking who is the king of dancehall right now is a no-brainer,” he said. “His impact on dancehall has been like nothing that has ever been witnessed.” He also noted that while Beenie Man’s 2009 crowning came with “controversy,” Kartel’s feels “more natural”—a reflection of the Worl’ Boss’s continued dominance despite his previous incarceration and a testament to his unmatched catalogue of hits, cultural influence, and international appeal.
Kartel’s rise from Portmore talent to global icon has reshaped the very architecture of dancehall. According to Bogdanovich, the artist’s crossover into hip hop spaces, massive global streaming numbers, and fan bases in Europe and the U.S. have elevated him beyond the boundaries of traditional Jamaican music stardom. “He is selling out big stadiums… They love him wherever he goes,” Bogdanovich said, underlining why Sumfest had “no reservation” about anointing him.
With Kartel poised to deliver what’s being touted as a “show-stopping performance,” Reggae Sumfest 2025 is shaping up to be a coronation not just of a man, but of a movement. One that began in the gritty studios of Kingston and now echoes from dancehall sessions to international arenas. Whether celebrated or debated, one thing is clear—this is a new era, and Vybz Kartel sits squarely on the throne.
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