Dancehall artist Laden is making a bold return to the spotlight, set to perform on the main stage of Reggae Sumfest for the first time in over a decade. After a 13-year hiatus, the Time to Shine deejay is bringing renewed focus, fresh energy, and a growing catalogue of new music to the festival stage on July 18. His comeback is already gaining traction thanks to his latest single Uno Dos Tres, which recently received high praise from Vybz Kartel himself. “When Kartel a endorse the ting, is a great ting dat! A the King dat!” Laden shared in a recent interview, clearly humbled by the co-sign.
Reflecting on the timing of his return, Laden noted the full-circle moment of sharing the Sumfest lineup with Kartel, just as he did back in 2011. “The last time Kartel performed at Sumfest… that was the last time I also performed. Now he’s on it, and I’m on it as well,” he said. With a mix of old favourites and new offerings on deck, he’s promising fans a memorable performance. “I’ll be performing all the classics along with the new tings dem; it’s going to be exciting.“
Beyond the Sumfest stage, Laden has his sights set on releasing his long-awaited debut album, Against All Odds. The 14-track set has faced multiple delays, with the deejay revealing he wasn’t satisfied with the production quality on some songs. “I have an album ready, but some of the production just wasn’t right,” he admitted. Despite the production hurdles, he remains committed to delivering a project that lives up to both his story and his potential, and says a new release date will be announced soon.
Laden’s resurgence isn’t just about music—it’s about redemption, growth, and reclaiming his place in dancehall. “I learnt from my experiences and I am just ready to give music my all again,” he said. “All I have to do is continue putting in the work… just keep pushing and have faith.” With momentum building, and the spotlight of Reggae Sumfest shining bright, Laden’s comeback is shaping up to be one of music’s interesting chapters for 2025.
