TORONTO – When Drake was an adolescent, he’d stand exterior Toronto’s long-gone Escape Nightclub handing out flyers simply to get inside and lose himself in Vybz Kartel’s music. On Sunday night time, he got here full circle, recalling that reminiscence on stage as he welcomed the dancehall star for his first-ever Canadian live performance at Scotiabank Enviornment.
Kartel, dressed head to toe in Blue Jays gear, kicked off night time one in all three sold-out Toronto exhibits on the venue, turning into the primary Jamaican artist to attain the milestone.
“Have a look at all these folks proper right here, how a lot time we’ve spent with this man’s music proper right here,” Drake instructed a frenzied crowd.
Moments earlier, the Toronto rapper made a shock look, performing a string of hits — together with 2016’s “Controlla” and this yr’s “Nokia” — from a balcony within the area’s decrease stage.
“We’ve been ready to see you our complete [expletive] lives. Welcome dwelling — we’re so comfortable to have you ever,” Drake instructed Kartel earlier than asking permission to play some songs.
The Toronto exhibits, introduced by Drake’s firm OVO, have been long-awaited by Canadian followers. Born Adidja Palmer, Vybz Kartel is one in all dancehall’s most influential — and controversial — figures. He rose to prominence within the early 2000s with hits mixing dancehall and hip-hop, and continued releasing music even after his 2014 homicide conviction and life sentence. A number of albums, together with 2016’s Billboard-charting “King of the Dancehall,” had been recorded covertly from jail.
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Kartel’s conviction was overturned in March 2024 as a consequence of juror misconduct, and he was launched final yr. Since then, the 49-year-old has earned a Grammy nomination, launched into a world tour and launched a gradual stream of recent music.
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Drake has lengthy credited Kartel as one in all his largest influences, referencing him in interviews and on social media. Drake invited Kartel to affix him on stage at London’s Wi-fi Pageant over the summer time, and their collaboration continued on Canadian soil Sunday.
The gang thundered when Kartel took the stage to his remix of Akon’s 2004 hit “Locked Up,” wielding a baseball bat and sporting a powder-blue Blue Jays jersey with “Worl’ Boss” — one in all his nicknames — stitched on the again.
“Canada, we’re right here!” he declared. “Yo, huge up Blue Jays.”
Regardless of pushing 50 and battling Graves’ illness, Kartel’s power was turned to 11 for the complete present. Pumping his knees and bounding down the stage like a one-man parade, he unleashed hits together with “Romping Store,” “It Bend Like Banana” and “Go Go Wine,” the viewers gyrating and belting alongside to each phrase.
At one level, Kartel grew to become emotional whereas recounting touchdown in Toronto earlier within the day.
“I let you know, tears got here to my eyes as a result of I’ve by no means been right here earlier than and I do know the folks wish to see me,” he shared.
“I actually cried. Me, a grown-ass man. I stated God is the best.”
A number of attendees stated they by no means thought they’d see the day Kartel carried out in Canada.
Daniella Mcleary stated she’s been listening to the dancehall star since “earlier than I used to be sufficiently old to be listening to him,” and scrambled to get tickets when the exhibits had been introduced.
“I feel everybody that’s Caribbean was attempting to get right here at this time. Toronto has such an enormous Caribbean group, particularly Jamaican, so we’re all going to return collectively and vibe,” she says.
“He might have bought out the Rogers Centre, too, simply.”
Brittney Sinclair, who was born in Jamaica, says Kartel is embedded in Caribbean tradition.
“I view him as a nationwide hero, and I feel it’s a miracle he’s right here at this time,” she says, noting that it’s all of the extra exceptional given his time behind bars.
Sharda Persaud says she’s been ready for Kartel to play Canada for so long as she will be able to bear in mind.
“I really feel like each reminiscence in highschool goes again to a Kartel tune,” she says.
“His music additionally immediately transports me to Caribana. It’s every thing.”
Sherry Singh credit “Romping Store” for bringing her and her accomplice collectively.
“It was taking part in at a membership and it led to some good loving,” she laughs. “15 years later, we’re nonetheless grinding to it.”
Nonetheless, she believes dancehall has been missed by the Canadian mainstream, regardless of its significance to the Caribbean group.
“To see Vybz right here, on our dwelling turf, means loads,” she says.
“This can be a good first step, however we have to see extra.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 27, 2025
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