Vybz Kartel Earns First Silver Certification In The UK With ‘Fever’
Dancehall artist Vybz Kartel’s 2016 hit Fever was certified Silver in the United Kingdom on Friday (February 10).
According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), the song was issued the Brit Certified Silver Award after it sold over 200,000 units in the UK, as measured by The Official Charts Company.
This is the incarcerated deejay’s first UK certification.
His eldest son, Adidja Jaheim Palmer, more popularly known as Likkle Vybz was in jubilant spirits when DancehallMag informed him of his father’s latest accolade.
The youngster, who has followed in his father’s footsteps to pursue music, said the certification was another win for his whole family.
“Before it was certified silver in the UK, it was certified gold in the USA, which is sales of 500,000 copies. With that being said, this accomplishment definitely means a lot to us,” Likke Vybz said.
The RIAA had certified the song Gold in the US in February 2020.
“It’s a great feeling to know that your father wrote, recorded, and released a single independently with no backing from a major label and it sells gold and silver. It encourages you even more to put in the work and perfect your craft so one day you can do what was done before and try to do better,” he added.
Fever, which was produced by Linton “TJ” White alongside Mario ‘Dunw3ll’ Dunwell, was released by the incarcerated deejay in June 2016 on his King Of The Dancehall album.
The song has since amassed over 110 million views on YouTube, including the official music video, which has 27 million views.
In the US, it spent six weeks on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, where it peaked at No. 36, and four weeks on the Rap Airplay chart, where it peaked at No. 23.
Regardless of the differing opinions on who holds the title of King of Dancehall, Likkle Vybz said his father’s newest achievement proves that he is still the top contender.
“He is no doubt still the King of Dancehall,” Likkle Vybz told DancehallMag.
Kartel was ranked fourth overall on the list of most streamed Jamaican artists on YouTube in 2022 with 415 million views—behind megastars Sean Paul, Bob Marley, and Shaggy.
Based on the data provided by YouTube, the United States came in as the top country in 2022 to view Vybz Katel’s music, with 66.9 million views. Jamaica was second place with 59.5 million views, followed by India with 33.8 million views, the United Kingdom with 26.5 million and Kenya with 19 million views.
His most-viewed songs on YouTube in 2022 included With You, African Summer, Fever, Summer Time, Ride It with Shaneil Muir, Girl Next Door, and Any Weather.
Kartel, who was among four men convicted for the 2011 murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, is up for parole sometime in the year 2046. He has continued to maintain his innocence and remains optimistic that the UK Privy Council may soon rule in his favor on his final appeal.