Vybz Kartel is stepping into a busy new chapter, revealing that his partner is expecting their child in January, announcing a new reality series, and clarifying exactly what his much-discussed “The Return” event series actually is.
The dancehall icon addressed widespread confusion about the branding of “The Return,” explaining that it is not a single venue or a permanent club, but a touring pop-up event concept designed to recreate the atmosphere of a legendary space he and his team once occupied.
“The building is the physical space that Coretta and I used to occupy like 15 years ago, which was the hottest club at the time,” he said. “
The memories that were made there, the controversies that were created there, and just the entire vibe, the lighting, the ambiance, the mood, the drinks.”
Rather than anchoring the experience to one location, Kartel said the plan is to bring it across the island. We may pop up in Montego Bay, we may pop up in Mandeville,” he said, adding that the series is “for the entire Jamaica.”
He framed it as a nod to nostalgia without being trapped by it, aimed at fans who were too young or unable to attend the original events, as well as those who lived through them.
Some had interpreted “The Return” as a signal that Kartel was coming back to Jamaica after time abroad. He dismissed that reading plainly. “I never left,” he said.
On the personal front, Kartel confirmed that he and his partner are expecting. “We’re expecting a beautiful baby,” he said. “I think the due date is in January.” He noted that January is also his own birth month, adding with a laugh that the child may share his Capricorn sign.
He also revealed that the couple is developing a reality series together. He drew a direct line to his earlier production, “Teacher’s Pet,” positioning the new project as a return to that format on a larger scale.
It’s never been recreated after Vybz Kartel did it,” he said. Guess who’s going to do it 15 years later?” He said the pilot is set to be filmed after his upcoming Malta dates, with production moving forward from there.
Kartel also spoke about the ongoing Gaza Gully tour, which is set to continue at the O2 Arena in London before moving to Malta for a three-night run. He mentioned a lineup that includes Skeng, Govana, Shaniel Muir, and Vegas among others.
He also pointed to Kenya as one of his top five streaming markets globally, placing it ahead of most European countries except England, and said conversations are underway about bringing shows to the African continent.
When asked about his broader impact on dancehall, Kartel credited longevity above all else. “Hard work, perseverance, and longevity,” he said. “You can’t leave out longevity out of stuff like this when it’s happening this big.”
He pointed to the sustained careers of artists like Drake and Jay-Z as reference points, noting that neither built their standing in five years.
He said the same principle applies to what dancehall has achieved on the global stage, with arena shows now a reality for artists from the genre.
“The glass ceiling is broken right now,” he said. He added that the achievements belong not just to him but to the culture, and that opening those doors benefits every artist who comes after.
