From the day he was released from prison in Jamaica on July 31, many fans across Jamaica and indeed the Caribbean and the world were stating via social media just what they would sacrifice to attend the first post-prison Vybz Kartel concert.
Already it was being predicted, that tickets would cost “an arm and a leg”.
Well, last Friday during an interview with Jamaica’s TVJ’s ER, Vybz Kartel not only disclosed when his first concert would be, but also joked that fans may have to sell “an organ or two” to attend.
According to the Dancehall artiste, his first concert would be in December of this year, despite his battle with Graves’ disease.
“Jamaica,” Kartel said, will be the venue for his first show, followed by Trinidad and the Bahamas, with negotiations ongoing for other island stops.
“We will be spinning more like tornados,” he told the show’s host.
Kartel boasted that the venue of the first show was expected to attract more than 100,000, with that same number on the outside wanting to enter.
He went on to list Spice and Skillibeng among the artistes he would like to perform with.
Since the announcement, fans in some other islands have taken to Social Media with queries about when Kartel will perform in their homeland.
Some said they were saving for airline and concert tickets to attend the first show.
In 2010, the governments of several countries banned Vybz Kartel.
Back in April 2010, the authorities canceled an advertised concert featuring Kartel in Saint Lucia due to concerns over a negative influence on the island’s youth from the Gaza vs. Gully feud.
Kartel was said to be leading the Gaza charge, with his rival Movado on the Gully side.
Originally a war of lyrics that was primarily personal but not physical, eventually, the back-and-forth lyrical ‘dissing’ spilled out into underground street violence.
At the end of last week’s interview, Vybz Kartel said the main lesson his thirteen years in prison had taught him was how precious time is and the need to avoid negative energy.
It’s just interesting to read about people’s reactions to a celebrity that has been party to and convicted of the ultimate crime of murder. One would think he is the poster boy for most of what’s wrong in our society, but is being welcomed with open arms by those who condemn similar actions from the ones that are the downtrodden in our society. He gets a pass (12yrs) while some linger in prisons for doing so much less. Our priority’s are just so screwed up and we wonder why crime is so pervasive in the Caribbean.
@Lincoln, thanks. I have nothing to add to your comment. So true.
This right there!!! is the issue we have in the caribbean!! A useless fool like that bein an influence
@Lincoln, its pathetic, people ask to separate the music from the person but musicians tend to express their lives in their music so if drugs, gangs and murder is part of this persons life then why are we making excuses. Also has he ever come out to say that he was innocent ? One should accept the punishment for the crime and then work to better their life and reputation after prison but I am not sure he has paid his debts in this situation.
I am no Vybz Kartel fan. There I admit it. But I can surely listen to Vybz Kartel music without going into social meltdown and anarchy. The problem is people (that is those who can’t enjoy the music without misbehaving) have no self control and let the emotional sway of lyrics and beats to control their brain and consequently their actions. And I can understand why a government will ban a particular artist from performing due to the risk young impressionable minds can’t differentiate between art and realities of life as demonstrated by the rivalry between Gaza Vs Gully. People become stupid to the point of derision while the artist syphons money from their pockets and their brains from their skulls. Why can’t you enjoy an artist irrespective of explicit lyrics or not and just be civilised? If a people can’t show maturity and restraint to behave responsibly, then I support the government in prioritorising the stability of the nation.
I wouldn’t dare spend my hard earned money on this guy. NEVA!
Bring Vybs Kartel back, let him play here in St Lucia….Give the man a chance!!!
You all talkin carnival vibes vibes vibes well bring VYBZ for real!!!
I wish he would have come to St Lucia FIR$T. We don’t have the capacity, it would have been THE BIGGEST ONE DAY CONCERT in $t Lucia’s History. Thousands of people from neighboring islands and elsewhere would have embarked upon our little island for that show and who still sitting on their moralistic ass since 2010 still alive (unfortunately) would be against this. Kartel has HUGE St Lucian fan base, you cannot drive from VF to Castries without hearing Kartel’s music blasting out of every bar on the road and from 2010 to 2024 the technology avail ability and accessibility to Kartel’s Music is so profound and readily I am just wondering what would these 3 fool’s moralistic quest to stop him from performing here achieve ?? Just asking for a friend they know themselves. He was convicted of “accessory to a crime ” and sentenced to 30yrs , your beloved England and its privy council begged to differ so my question again is your Privy Council there only to upheld and not overturned which seems to be an irrate to Some. For me I see dollars, so I position thy self. I am already working on a “Gaza Brand” that’s right I got my mind on my money and my money mind always thinking on how to be rich instead of sitting down and bitch.
I love his music..been a fan for many years…I plan on making that trip back to Jamaica 🇯🇲 for this concert..it’s going to be a party…then Spice on top of it…woiiii to see them sing romping shop…I can’t wait lol
Sorry not a fan. Bring Rihanna from Barbados instead. She is a legend and her mysic is way better.
Some of you old timers and ignorant fools need to shove y’all opinion deep deep up y’all…this man is a Legend and nothing yall do or say cannot discredit or take his merit….influence my hass!….id rather see vybz kartel any day anytime before attending a carnival event with all those sodomite and stinkers parading our streets in front the eyes of our vulnerable and gullible kids,now dats real hypocrisy when you idiots condemning kartel and saluting to canaval….Dennery segment is no different from the style of music vybz kartel utter,same message in a different genre and dialect,…and this is not about kartel being murderer because long before him go a prison dem a fight him so…….if is one ting i can say is when it comes to the wider world,St.lucians has a very small narrow minded thinking…Buju Banton was convicted and prisoned in the US for alleged illicit activity and was still handed a US visa to re-enter the US.
John public…shut it…no wonder our boys playin cowboys n crooks in st lucia…its abt time so of u all mouth be put on breaks…..lay the demonic forces to rest
Some asking for Rhyanna like she needs the money. She don’t even perform in Barbados anymore when she goes there. Don’t look for her to be here anytime in the near future our money not tall enough. Kartel just like Buju and Luciano will never set foot here again based on how they were treated so the stiff upper lippers can sleep well at nights.
Just digging horrors, the ordinary man will get out of prison, hard to find a job or make some money… but kartel come out and is an arm and a leg to see him… so he’s more expensive now… boy life so dread!
@ Neutral I have read in one publication where he states he has stopped answering phone, because calls are coming from all over as far as Japan and Europe, so many rappers want him to “collab” with them, the media from all over wants to do interviews, he has just stop answering the phone and is focusing on his health. So when he said “arm and a leg” that’s in reference to the promoter and bottom feeders he got his lump sum up front already, plus he plans to sue the state I don’t thin they are going to award him a few thousand dollars, they might just settle before trial to save themselves from embarrassment (a wise choice) so Kartel never has to work again if he does no feel to.
He seems like a perfect fit for this island.
@ lincoln shut your mother dog face if kartel comes here that show will sell out some of yourl busy spending hard working money on a woman or man that doh even want yourl..