COMMENTARY: Vybz Kartel’s New Album “Viking Vybz Is King: (10th Year Anniversary)”

10 Things You Need To Know About The Album!

1) The Album is a REVIVE and REVAMP of his previously released album originally titled “Viking (Vybz Is King)”, released on January 14, 2015. The REVAMPED VERSION titled “Viking Vybz Is King: (10th Year Anniversary)” was released on January 31, 2025 — same month as the previous and same month as his birth month, (Vybz Kartel, born, Adidja Azim Palmer, has his birth date as January 7, 1976 – makes him 49 years old).

2) The album holds 11 Songs and (predominantly) typifies a Hardcore yet Commercial collective — style and steeze maintained but upgraded with new song/lyrcial flows.

3) The Album is co-owned/distributed by AdidjaHiem Records and TJ Records.

4) The Album features ONLY One Artiste, ISHAWNA! She got listed on “Porn Flick”, an unapologetically raunchy, explicit classic – it’s one of my top favourites off the collective.

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3sNbgXyN0nDNinBvlowOkQ?si=KkYJy_tTTVWdHUOMZOM8bw

5) Vybz Kartel wanted to have and/or show his full dominance over the Dancehall genre cum album (though he needn’t prove anything to anyone, again, after all these years of apropos showmanship in riddim juggling and songwriting capabilities), thus, he didn’t put in any other (male) features in there — except Ishawna. Not even his own children nor any member of his Gaza Clique, as one would’ve thought! I feel he employed Ishawna to “mirror” the woman who is in his life now (Sidem), and also defend his love and respect for femininity. Also a way of showing how he was able to given women (from his fold, Gaza connect) — opportunity to hit mainstream recognition/stardom, just as he has done with Gaza Kim, Gaza Slim (Vanessa Bling), Lisa Hyper, Spice, Sheba, et al.

6) Out of the 11 Songs, 4 Hot Major classics were previously released on the 10-Year-Old album in 2015 — titled “Gon’ Get Better”, “Enchanting”, “Dancehall”, and “Unstoppable”, respectively. This was a very smart move by Vybz Kartel and his (Marketing/Creative) Team I should say! Even though these past 4 songs were and are still big songs, having them re-released on this current album gives them more/extra longevity as it reinforces and reinforms very Core Fans of Vybz Kartel before the advent of the “modern day” (Gen Z) Fanbase. Commercially, it’s a WIN that flicks back to influence the 10-Year-Old Album he dropped in 2015.

Listen on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gh/album/viking-vybz-is-king-10th-year-anniversary/1791832026

7) As a Trademark of Vybz Kartel, the entire Album is FULLY EXPLICIT without apology — just as Mr. Palmer himself defends each time he’s asked about his direction of lyrics — and YES INDEED, with the ‘Gallis’ and ‘Playboy’ signature in his vocal dynamics and accentuations.

8) The Album has a thing for both the Male and Feminine Audiences and cuts across different spheres of the Dancehall Fraternity.

9) The Album is a Great Culture Sustainability Product — the album didn’t shuffle or dovetail into any of these ‘New Skuul’ Dancehall styles with ‘mumble’ juggling on riddims nor has anything related to the ‘Gen Z’ type of ‘trap Dancehall’ — NOT to say or mean Vybz Kartel can’t do any of these styles! His versatility beyond the Dancehall Genre is as visible as the sun in Tamale all year round! I personally feel Vybz Kartel didn’t want to sway into the “modern dancehall styles” so he can defend what he’s originally known for and also to help maintain the FOUNDATION DANCEHALL STYLE that shot him into the limelight and more importantly and impressively, pay homage to his motherland, Jamaica and its previous Dancehall Crooners cum Legends.

10) You think I would end this commentary without taking about the artwork? Visibility accentuates the Jamaican Colours to prove his love for his home country and pride for Jamaica. The title “Viking” in itself typifies authority and ‘warrior’ status as a Dancehall genie who has defended his turf, thus, deserved the crown as a ‘King’ within the Dancehall Community with a career spanning 3 decades plus, and commercially successful, over 2 decades and still counting! As Kartel heads to the Grammys, he strategically dropped the album 2 days to the most prestigious music awards event. What a Master-Plan!!!

That being said, I wish Vybz Kartel all the best at the 67th GRAMMYs and I pray he wins it as it would make a VERY BIG STATEMENT TO THE DANCEHALL COMMUNITY WORLDWIDE! “Dancehall Cyaan Stall! Waah dis kinda mi nose? AM OUT! Uh!” (in Vybz Kartel’s Voice).

Thanks for spending time to read, your comments are welcome!

(Written by: Elorm Beenie — BeenieWords.com)