Vybz Kartel’s global resurgence continues to gain momentum after the dancehall superstar secured his first-ever Gold certification in the United Kingdom for his 2016 anthem “Fever”, while simultaneously expanding his international footprint through “Lambo”, a new collaboration with Nigerian Afropop heavyweight Mr Eazi and acclaimed producer Dre Skull. The dual achievement further cements Kartel’s enduring influence across dancehall and Afrobeats, reinforcing his status as one of Jamaica’s most impactful musical exports.
The British Phonographic Industry officially awarded “Fever” Gold certification on Friday, July 3, after the single surpassed 400,000 combined sales and streams in the UK, according to data compiled by the Official Charts Company. The milestone marks Kartel’s first UK Gold plaque and follows the song’s Silver certification in February 2023. The deejay also earned a UK Silver certification for “Summertime” last year, while “Fever” previously went Gold in the United States through the Recording Industry Association of America in 2020.
With more than 100 million YouTube views to date, “Fever” has evolved into one of Kartel’s signature records and a staple in global dancehall culture. The achievement arrives during a renewed wave of international visibility for the entertainer, whose recent projects and collaborations have continued to resonate across the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and North America.
Meanwhile, Kartel is also making fresh moves in the Afrobeats space through “Lambo”, the lead single from Mr Eazi and Dre Skull’s upcoming collaborative mixtape Yard & Yanga. The project celebrates the deep-rooted cultural connection between Jamaica and West Africa, blending dancehall rhythms with Afrobeats influences. Mr Eazi described the sound as “dancehall but my own interpretation”, while Dre Skull praised Kartel as “a generational talent” whose energy elevated the record.
Kartel and Dre Skull share a long-standing musical relationship dating back to the 2009 single “Yuh Love” and the critically acclaimed 2011 album Kingston Story, widely regarded as one of modern dancehall’s defining projects. As anticipation builds for Yard & Yanga later this year, Kartel’s latest UK milestone and renewed global collaborations suggest the dancehall icon remains firmly at the centre of the genre’s international evolution.
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