VYBZ KARTEL MAKES HISTORY AT BARCLAYS CENTER
Dancehall star sells out arena three times in under a year, drops surprise EP

Brooklyn, NY — Dancehall icon Vybz Kartel cemented his legacy over the weekend, becoming the first artiste in the genre to sell out the Barclays Center three times in less than a year. The record-breaking performance on Saturday night featured special appearances by dancehall’s reigning queen Spice, as well as hip-hop heavyweights DJ Khaled and Busta Rhymes, igniting the Brooklyn crowd in what fans described as a landmark moment for the culture.

The historic concert coincided with the surprise release of Kartel’s new 11-track EP Heart & Soul, which debuted at No. 7 on the U.S. iTunes Reggae Albums Chart by Sunday, August 31. Adding to the celebration, DJ Khaled’s collaborative single You Remind Me—featuring Kartel, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Rorystonelove, and Kaylan Arnold—soared to No. 1 on the U.S. iTunes Reggae Songs Chart, underscoring the global reach of the dancehall movement.

Heart & Soul showcases a more vulnerable side of the deejay while retaining the lyrical intensity that earned him the title “Worl’ Boss.” The project opens with They’re Outta Love, We Aren’t, a tender dedication to his fiancée Sidem, and transitions into I Know, an energetic anthem that has sparked a viral TikTok dance trend. Tracks such as You Know Goat reflect on life after prison, name-dropping Popcaan and celebrating his Miami lifestyle, while In Too Deep and Ghetto Girl Chosen revisit the melodic, romantic tone of his earlier classics.