Travis Scott’s Jackboys 2 is proving itself as one of the year’s heavyweight releases, storming to the No. 7 spot among the biggest U.S. album debuts of 2025 with 232,000 units sold in its first week. While it trails juggernauts like I’m the Problem (493K) and Hurry Up Tomorrow (490K), its placement ahead of MAYHEM (219K), Breach (200K), and AM I THE DRAMA? (199.6K) underscores its commercial firepower. The 17-track compilation not only showcases Travis Scott’s pulling power but also the star-studded contributions from Future, 21 Savage, Playboi Carti, NBA YoungBoy, GloRilla, Bun B, and notably, dancehall icon Vybz Kartel.
For Kartel, the feature on PBT alongside Scott and Tyla has already translated into his fourth Billboard entry, now rising to No. 18 on the Rhythmic Airplay chart. It’s a powerful statement for an artist once viewed as confined to Jamaican borders. Kartel is now sharing ranking spaces on the charts with some of the most successful acts in the world, his track standing shoulder-to-shoulder with projects like KARMA (313K), MUSIC (298K), and $OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U (246K).
The chart moment couldn’t come at a better time. Just weeks from now, Kartel will make history with his Toronto debut at Scotiabank Arena on October 26–27, headlining Drake’s birthday celebrations. “@vybzkartel DI TEACHA LIVE IN TORONTO FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER… CHAMPAGNE BDAY CELEBRATIONS ?,” Drake wrote on Instagram, sending fans into a frenzy. The shows, already sold out, mark another leap in Kartel’s post-prison resurgence, cementing him not just as the “King of Dancehall” but a global live act commanding arena stages.
When stacked against the year’s other top debuts, Jackboys 2 proves the power of collaboration in driving big numbers. While the top three spots (I’m the Problem, Hurry Up Tomorrow, and Man’s Best Friend) all crossed the 350K mark, Scott’s ability to mobilize 232K—thanks to his network of global talent—places him in rarefied company. And with Kartel bringing dancehall to a U.S. mainstream audience that’s increasingly embracing Caribbean sounds, PBT feels less like a one-off feature and more like a bridge between cultures.
From chart-topping placements to arena-shaking performances, the narrative of 2025 has placed Vybz Kartel firmly in the global spotlight. With Jackboys 2 lodged in the year’s Top 10 debuts and PBT continuing its Billboard climb, the Worl’ Boss is no longer just making an international comeback—he’s cementing his role in one of the year’s defining music moments.
