Saturday, April 12 turned up the star power even higher. Y opened Ghanaian sensation Moliy, dancehall princess Shenseea, and lyrical firebrand Skillibeng joined forces to deliver an electrifying performance of “Shake It to the Max.” The crowd erupted as dancehall queen Spice recreated an iconic moment from their past—draped in nothing but a towel, she serenaded Kartel with sultry intensity. The night continued with cameos from R&B icon Ne-Yo, hip-hop royalty Fabolous and Lil’ Kim, and a wave of reggae and dancehall heat courtesy of YG Marley, Ishawna, Kranium, Chronic Law, Kraff, and hitmaking producer and artist Rvssian. It was a night where Brooklyn met Kingston in a blaze of rhythm and star power.
“This was an emotional and amazing night—something I’ve dreamed of,” said Kartel. “I knew this show would be explosive. My New York fans have been waiting a long time, so being back felt like a full-circle moment. I had to pinch myself. I’m deeply grateful for my fans, everyone working behind the scenes, and the special guests who supported—on stage or off. It was a beautiful two nights in a city that means so much to me.”
CJ Milan, CEO of Reggae Fest, shared his excitement, saying: “This was such a historical weekend for dancehall and the culture. This is the first time there have been two back-to-back sold out shows at Barclays Center for dancehall. I am blessed to be a part of the biggest show in dancehall history in the U.S. and happy for Vybz Kartel that he received his flowers from his community, to be part of that energy was amazing.”