1 month ago
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Just days ahead of his official coronation as King of the Dancehall, Vybz Kartel, who is set to receive the crown from reigning Dancehall Queen Spice, joined Drake on stage in the UK for the Toronto rapper's historic performance at the 2025 Wireless Festival.
The three-day event, held at London’s Finsbury Park last weekend, marked the festival's 20th anniversary and saw Drake headlining all three nights.
It promised unique set lists and delivered just that, with Drake hitting the stage with artistes such as Giveon, Bryson Tiller, PartyNextDoor, Mario, Bobby V, Yeat, 21 Savage, Sexyy Red, Central Cee, Dave, Rema, and even Vanessa Carlton, who performed her mega-hit A Thousand Miles.
Ms Lauryn Hill joined Drake on stage to perform Ready or Not and later returned to share the spotlight with Nigerian star Burna Boy, who made his Wireless début during Sunday’s show.
Vybz Kartel received a king’s welcome at the festival, which also featured performances from several other Jamaican and dancehall artistes.
A screen at the event displayed the message: "Welcome Home OVO Worl' Boss Vibes on Vybz ".
Spice, the Queen of the Dancehall, delivered an energetic set featuring hits like Sheet and So Mi Like It. She later returned to the stage to join Kartel for a special performance, including Conjugal Visit.
"This is a big [expletive] ting," she told the audience.
Ghanaian-American singer and songwriter Moliy shook it to the max with Stefflon Don and Vybz Kartel. Masicka also hit the stage, and Popcaan thrilled with several of his hits, including My Chargie with Drake.
As a dancehall party unfolded on the main stage, Kartel had the crowd and Drake singing Fever word for word.
The dancehall star, who at different points entered the stage to his remix of Touch Down by Stylo G and Fanatix, and Fever, performed Clarks with Popcaan and Hotline Bling with Drake.
Drake embraced the star, telling the crowd, "The World Boss is home".
At the close of the show, Drake returned to the stage with Kartel, Popcaan, Central Cee, to thank the fans.
"On behalf of all of us, right here, I want to let you know, you've changed our lives immensely. We have been able to do things for our family, for our kids, [and] for our friends, that we would have never imagined. We appreciate you for taking your hard-earned money that you worked your [expletive] every day for at whatever job you've got, and buying tickets, and streaming songs, and doing whatever you've gotta do. London, you are a one of one place, I will love you for the rest of my life. Thank you for three of the best days of my life," he said.
The Wireless Festival announcement came in February, not long after Kartel’s highly publicised release from prison last year, following 13 years behind bars. Acquitted by the Court of Appeal in July, the dancehall legend wasted no time reclaiming his throne, staging the celebratory Freedom Street concert that December.
He was nominated for his first Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards for Party With Me, a project that he recorded while incarcerated. The award ultimately went to Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By The Film (Deluxe). Kartel and his fiancée, Sidem Öztürk attended the awards ceremony on February 2 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
He has since embarked on a worldwide tour. Fans had eagerly anticipated his performance alongside Drake, who has long expressed admiration for Kartel’s influence on his own musical style.
In an Instagram post made on Monday morning, Drake named champagnepapi on the platform, captioned photos taken with Popcaan, and Kartel, with the caption: "Still doesnt feel real. Wurl Boss and me aka Baby Gaza on stage, it's a lifestyle moment."
Kartel’s next stop is in Jamaica at Reggae Sumfest, set for this Friday at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre in Montego Bay, where he’ll be officially crowned King of the Dancehall.
"We will be flipping the script, this time around it will be the queen crowning the king,” Joe Bogdanovich, chief executive officer of DownSound Entertainment, the organisers of Reggae Sumfest, told THE STAR, in an interview at the Reggae Sumfest Fun Day, in Montego Bay. “It will be a special moment for dancehall.”
“Vybz Kartel is a new man, he is a different person," Bogdanovich said of the deejay. He has transcended into the hip hop world, they love him wherever he goes, he is selling out big stadiums in the United States and Europe.”
English (US) ·