Dancehall star Vybz Kartel is stacking global wins, landing a feature on Chris Brown’s forthcoming album, Brown, set for release this Friday, May 8, while heading into the International Reggae and World Music Awards 2026 as the most-nominated act. With 11 nods, including Entertainer of the Year, Recording Artiste of the Year and Best Album for Heart & Soul, Kartel’s momentum continues to build at a crucial moment in his career.
Brown’s 12th studio album is expected to deliver a sprawling 27-track offering, featuring a mix of R&B and crossover heavyweights such as Leon Thomas, Bryson Tiller, Tank, GloRilla and Fridayy. Kartel appears on a track titled “F#ck N Party”, marking one of the project’s most talked-about collaborations. The link-up adds to a growing list of Caribbean connections in Brown’s catalogue, and follows his public salute to Kartel after the deejay’s Freedom Street concert earlier this year, signalling a continued alignment between the two artists.
The feature also fits into Kartel’s expanding global footprint since his release, with recent appearances on major international projects including JACKBOYS 2 alongside Travis Scott and Tyla. The steady stream of high-profile collaborations underscores a calculated push into wider markets, reinforcing his position as one of dancehall’s most influential exports.
Meanwhile, attention now turns to the International Reggae and World Music Awards 2026, where Kartel leads the field with 11 nominations across major categories. The Best Album race sets up a notable clash with Grammy-winning reggae act Keznamdi, adding further intrigue to an already competitive field. With Brown dropping between the close of voting and awards night, Kartel enters the final stretch of the awards season with both global visibility and industry recognition firmly in his favour.
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