Vybz Kartel’s Albums: Ranked From Worst To Best
With this month marking seven years since Dancehall titan Vybz Kartel was sentenced to life imprisonment, we reflect on his dominant force and studio contributions to the genre.
The King of Dancehall reinvents himself so often that it’s difficult to compare albums from one year to the next. Nevertheless, we have taken on the task of ranking the Worl’ Boss’ 15 studio and compilation albums. The process relied on a couple of rating systems including peak Billboard chart positions, tracks that received heavy airplay throughout the years along with all-time fan-favorites and crowd-pleasers.
Here are Vybz Kartel’s albums, ranked from worst to best.
15. The Teacher’s Back (2008)
Sorry, but one had to take the worst spot.
In with producer Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor, who produced all the tracks, The Teacher’s Back was actually created for the Japanese market. It featured 18 songs from Kartel that didn’t quite hit the mark but it was with the addition of 6 bonus tracks – Nah Go Nuh Weh, Tightest Punani, What A Boy Can, Work Out, Bruk Out and Money Fi Spend, which were all included towards the end of the collection that ultimately gave this one a buzz.
14. Timeless (2004)
The release of Timeless wasn’t one of Kartel’s best efforts music-wise, he is however a pretty charismatic toaster with how he hyped the entire album all the way through. Although his intro track featured the intimidating gun flexing session, Maths Automatic in an ‘alliance’ with Bounty Killer, along with wicked cruisers like Big Man A Big Man and Nah Climb with Ward 21, expectations soon dwindled as less impressive tracks lathered over the collection. It’s a good thing he resuscitated some of his older hit tunes with the release of his follow-up album More Up 2 Di Time that same year, after all, he does have a knack for staying relevant.
13. Reggae Love Songs (2014)
The 2014 release of Reggae Love Songs captured Kartel in transition as he stepped away from his polarizing and predominantly hardcore tunes. Instead, the album delved into R&B crooning, melodious riddims and balladry in songs like Can’t Call This A Love Song, Miami Vice Episode, Crashing Head On, My Love My Love and the heavily played Without Money. Reggae Love Songs, released on his wife’s Short Boss Musik label, peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Reggae Album Chart.
12. To Tanesha (2020)
While fans still held on to hopes for the release of “Exiled Pharaoh,” Kartel slaked anticipations with To Tanesha. The entire collection was a dedication to the mother of three of his children Tanesha “Shorty” Johnson. It unearthed personal trials and spats from their relationship. She’s cold with a heart made of iron in the track Cast Iron Heart featuring Jada Kingdom. “Do you kill little puppies in your past time”, he asked in his verses.
Other singles would reveal she has broken his heart (Delusional), they had break-ups (Fell Apart) with his admission of doing her wrong. She cheated and had been taking him for a fool (In Da Moment). Then there were the excessive arguments (Makes No Sense) and the horrors of moving on with other loves (Neva Was Da One). She has certainly taken him through the wringer, admitting he has cried himself to sleep, stomached hurt, lies and jealousy.
11. Kingston Story (2011)
Following Pon Di Gaza 2.0 in 2010, Vybz unleashed 16 songs in Kingston Story the following year that didn’t quite have the same impact on the fans as its predecessor. There were certainly some high moments nonetheless, Yuh Love and his ‘bruk out’ anthem, Go Go Wine, that even today has many girls tapping into their go-go dancer alter ego at the kick of the hook. The album, produced by Mixpak founder Dre Skull, peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Reggae Album chart.
10. The Voice Of The Jamaican Ghetto – Incarcerated But Not Silenced (2013)
Here was a commendable organization of tracks (old and new) to truly represent the title. The album bared Kartel’s conscious side and was a reflection of his unwavering support for Jamaican ghetto people through Reggae music as a social activist. One would have to applaud the album’s commanding mélange of interludes, that were narratives by Lecturer/Columnist Louis E. A. Moyston, and the deejay’s expressive, story-like singles like the standouts Thank You Jah, Mama, and Life We Living. The Voice Of The Jamaican Ghetto peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Reggae Album chart, and though it wasn’t the type of work fans were accustomed to hearing at the time, it helped to establish Kartel’s dominance and street cred as the magnetic influencer he is today.
9. Most Wanted (2009)
This compilation featured a bunch of previously released singles from Kartel that offered him huge success erstwhile on the local scene – and as such it’s in our top 10. With catchy dance riddims and an overload of slack narratives complete with gun tunes, it was an excellent way to celebrate some of his singles and familiarize the uninitiated with the charismatic Dancehall lyricist. Smash hits included P-ssy Jaw, Realest Thing, Tekk Buddy, Empire Army, New Millenium, and Why You Doing It both featuring Wayne Marshall. Not forgetting his hypnotic entrants on the Badman Forward Riddim/Hard Slam Riddim with his singles Brooklyn Anthem and Street Pharmacist.
8. Viking – Vybz Is King (2015)
“Vybz Kartel is Dancehall” – is his mission statement he endeavored to demonstrate in the Viking –Vybz Is King. Unleashing a brand new collection of all listenable, fresh-sounding songs like Dancehall, Volcano, Facebook, and Unstoppable, the Worl’ Boss kept you hooked all the way through the collection with a few moments to reflect with his poignant singles Time and Gon’ Get Better and the enchanting, Enchanting that pulls you into another of his classic lewd deliveries. He certainly achieved what he had set out to do, the album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Reggae Album chart.
7. J.M.T. (2005)
It can be said Kartel’s style and flow circa 2005 could make anything sound incredible especially on the riddims created of the time. J.M.T. was the perfect reflection of this with an added demonstration of his affluent and seasoned music delivery skills. From the ear-hooking track I Never and his hip-hop rapping on the track Smuggler to his ridiculous precipitated flow on Gun Session and Realest Ting that would leave anyone tongue-tied in a sing-along, the deejay revealed an enhanced level of talent during the up and up of his career.
The aforementioned, Gun Session was probably the most remarkable track on this collection, (So Me A Sa, Hello Motto, and High Altitude featuring Bounty Killa, Baby G, and Don Corleon close entrants). But the Worl Boss’s spin on the legendary, Johnny Osbourne’s 1985 hit single Buddy Bye on the Sleng Teng Riddim was pure brilliance. The track was later remixed to feature Senegalese-American singer, Akon alongside Shabba Ranks, and Sizzla Kalonji.
6. Of Dons & Diva (2020)
Touted as the Grammy, Of Dons and Divas peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Reggae Album chart upon its debut. With a pre-album release of Cute Rider, which hit the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Reggae chart, the full album followed with 18 tracks, several of which were sizzling collaborations that didn’t disappoint. It found the Worl’ Boss back to his deadly enigmatic flows on standout tracks like Jump On The Beat featuring his son Likkle Vybz and the 6ix Boss Squash, along with Worl Boss, Big Bizniz featuring Teejay, and Pretty Butterfly with Lisa Hyper. The album had put a huge focus on assisted acts which also included, Skillibeng, Tommy Lee Sparta, Sikka Rymes, Daddy 1, Lisa Mercedez, Daniiboo, Slimatic, Jucee Froot, Redboom and both his sons, yet he still managed to dominate the stage and demonstrate his ability to blend and merge his music with others.
5. King Of The Dancehall (2016)
While in prison, Kartel released his most internationally successful album, King of the Dancehall, which peaked at No. 2 and spent 19 weeks on the US Billboard Reggae Album Chart. The album included his party banger Fever, which topped various local music charts and became his most successful track with a RIAA Gold certification. With his other addictive smash hit Colouring This Life, the album King Of The Dancehall has registered as one of Kartel’s best works. Though comes complete with gutsy tracks such as Most Wanted and Enemy Zone is nothing close to hardcore dancehall but platforms more pop-infused Dancehall riddims with singles Every Girl, Lipstick, and a breezy Island style tune, Can’t Say No with St. Lucian singer MonCherie.
A few of his personalities shine throughout the album, like the humorist that he is with Hey Addi, the mamas’ boy with Open Di Door, and the resurrection of Adi Banton (his very first stage name) with the single Sorry Babe -an ole school tune seemingly inspired by his idol, Buju Banton.
4. Up 2 Di Time (2003) & 3. More Up 2 Di Time – (2004)
Kartel’s debut studio album Up 2 The Time was released in 2003 but was quickly topped-up with More Up 2 Di time a year later to unleash the added crowd-pleasers, Picture This, Tekk B-ddy, Breast Specialist with Beenie Man and his infamous badman tracks, Badda Dan Dem, Real Bad Man, and Bad Man Party.
While the original LP already reflected break-through records such as Sweet To The Belly, Sen On, P-ssy Jaw along with New Millennium and Why Again featuring the euphonious Wayne Marshall, Kartel would prove from early on in his career that he was simply on another echelon. Not only did a majority of the songs from these collections elicit heavy airplay in the club and party scene at the time but went on to becoming crowd-certified Dancehall anthems throughout time.
2. Kartel Forever: Trilogy (2013)
Then came the juggernaut, Trilogy with the mighty Freaky Gal, Benz Pun-ni, Bike Back, Turn & Wine, Cake Soap and Straight Jeans & Fitted that remains some of Kartel’s most earth-shattering tracks of all time. The Trilogy boasts a vivid kaleidoscope of 60 tracks on three discs to include previous hits and (at the time) unreleased singles to demonstrate a continued evolution of an extraordinary talent that is, Kartel, and his clear intent to stay atop his Dancehall throne.
Disc 1 and 2 played like a mixtape of favorites picks spurring endless vibes with other hit songs like Summertime, Party Me Sey, Touch A Button, Dumpa, Stuck/ Better Can Wuk and Hi, while Disc 3 issued more subdued style deliveries. But in true Kartel form, the Trilogy gave fans their usual supply of gyallis and gun tunes plus the added motivational and conscious ballads, mixed with never-before promotional advertising of his very own Cake ‘bleaching’ Soap and Street Vybz Rum via the singles Cake Soap and Colouring Book (Tattoo Time Come). The album peaked at #11 on the Billboard Reggae Music Charts.
1. Pon Di Gaza 2.0 (2010)
Pon Di Gaza 2.0 is undeniably the best compilation of music by Vybz Kartel. There are two discs each comprising of 23 songs, which completes a 46-track list, although it can be said 80% of disc one from start to end showcases songs from the Worl Boss that went on to become massive hit tracks.
Aside from loosening up even the tautest thugs in the dance with his dance-inflicting bars and upbeat party beats contributed by producers Rvssian of Head Concussion Records and Notnice Records, Pon Di Gaza 2.0 issues an ingenious series of true stories, and confessions of his (uncontrollable) indiscretions that have formed some staple tracks in Dancehall music. Case in point, Love Dem/Gallis Anthem (a true story), Gal A Weh Do You, Nah Let Go, and Can’t Get Over Me.
Included was one of his biggest international successes, Clarks featuring Popcaan & Vanessa Bling, along with the highly popular Romping Shop with Spice and Dollar Sign. Let’s not forget the all-time fan favorites Bicycle, Gwaan So, Come Breed Me, Neva Scared, Life We Living, Bail For Me, plus his infamous Mavado diss track, Last Man Standing and Virginity, which has been sampled numerous times like in Krept and Konan’s First Times featuring Tory Lanez and Spice.
Even More Music …
As this concludes the prolific collection of Kartel’s studio albums, the deejay also has 9 extended plays (EPs) going back from 2009, which includes GAZA, Raw, The Gaza Don, Colouring Book, Stronger We Get, Amsterdam, Mentally Free, Time To Be Free to his most recent X-Rated that dropped last month, March 2021.
The deejay has been featured on more than 900 riddims from a score of producers across the globe and has collaborated with a plethora of international artists including, Jay Z, Rihanna, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliot, Pitbull, Akon, Sean Kingston, XXXTentacion, Kardinal Official, M.I.A, Tory Lanez, Major Lazer among several others and numerous local artistes.
This article is part of a series published in recognition of the anniversary of Vybz Kartel’s physical absence from, and continued influence over Dancehall. See also: