Vybz Kartel Plans New Year’s Eve Freedom Street Concert in Jamaica

After serving 13 years in a Jamaican prison, recording his biggest hit from behind bars and having his life sentence overturned earlier this year, Vybz Kartel has some big upcoming plans.

Having already released two projects this year in the Party With Me EP — Grammy nominated for best reggae album (his first) — and the compilation First Week Out, the Worl’ Boss is launching a new rum called STR8 VYBZ and will be returning to the stage on New Year’s Eve at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, for his highly anticipated Freedom Street concert. He then plans on following the concert by releasing a deluxe version of his 2015 album, Viking (Vybz Is King), to celebrate the album’s 10th anniversary in January of 2025.

His rum, STR8 VYBZ, is partnership with TJ Records and The House of Angostura bitters and will be available in a white overproof named Fever, a spiced version named Ramping Shop, a white flavor in Electric, and a dark rum entitled Unstoppable. Each version of the rum will be produced and bottled by Angostura Distillers in Trinidad and Tobago. “STR8 VYBZ is more than just a rum; it’s a movement. Each bottle embodies the energy and passion of my music, and the spirit of the culture I represent,” Vybz said in a press release.

Produced by Downsound Entertainment, the Dec. 31 concert — Vybz first since being released — will boast special guests such as Popcaan, Spice, Skillibeng, Tommy Lee Sparta, Chronic Law, Shawn Storm, Lisa Hyper, Sheba, Gaza Indy and Kartel’s sons Likkle Vybz and Likkle Addi, among others.