Vybz Kartel Earns 10th Entry On The Billboard Reggae Albums Chart

Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel has secured his 10th appearance on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart with the release of his latest project, Viking (10th Year Anniversary).

The album debuted at No. 10 on the Reggae chart dated February 15 following its release on Friday, January 31, 2025. This special edition project, released via Adidjahiem Records/TJ Records, celebrates a decade since the original Viking (Vybz Is King) release.

Viking (10th Year Anniversary) features a blend of four standout tracks from the 2015 project—Unstoppable, Enchanting, Gon’ Get Better (sampled by pop group Fifth Harmony), and Dancehall (now titled Dancehall Cyah Stall)—alongside seven brand-new songs, including God Is The Greatest, a tribute to the Almighty, the upbeat party anthem Str8 Vybz, and Polite. Other new highlights are the heartfelt love ballad Dreams Are Made Of, witty tracks like #AmOut and It A Tape, and a steamy collaboration with Ishawna titled P*rn Flick.

The album marks a significant milestone for Kartel, who recently returned to the music scene after his release from prison last year. Reflecting on the album, he shared: “This album is special because we are celebrating many milestones. We are recognizing the impact of the Viking album 10 years later, and then my ability to create new music for the first time since I have been out.”

“Plus it’s with my day one producer TJ Records and engineers Ricard “RedBoom” Reid and Dominic “Troublemekka” McDonald. It’s a full circle moment, and like I said on the first track ‘God Is The Greatest,’” Kartel added.

Kartel’s highest-charting album to date remains King of the Dancehall (2016), which debuted at No. 2 and spent 19 weeks on the chart. The album included the hit Fever, which crossed over to the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and was later certified Gold in the US.

His other Billboard charting albums include original Viking (Vybz Is King) (2015), which spent six weeks on the chart peaking at No. 3, Kingston Story (2012), which spent seven weeks on the chart, peaking at No. 7, and Vybz Kartel Roots & Culture: The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto (2013), which had a brief but impactful one-week run at No. 6 on the chart.

Kartel Forever: Trilogy (2013), Of Dons & Divas (2020), Born Fi Dis (Prelude) (2021) and Reggae Love Songs & Other Things (2014), all spent one week on the chart each—peaking at No. 11, No. 6, No. 9 and No. 7, respectivley.

The Billboard Reggae Albums chart dated February 15 is Bob Marley and The Wailers’ Legend, which remains at No. 1 for 266th non-consecutive week.

Shaggy’s Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection is at No. 2, while Sean Paul’s The Trinity makes a strong re-entry at No. 3.

Stick Figure maintains a commanding presence with three entries. World on Fire climbs to No. 4, followed by Wisdom at No. 7 and Set in Stone at No. 8. UB40’s Greatest Hits stands firm at No. 5, while Sean Paul makes another re-entry with his iconic album Dutty Rock, landing at No. 6.

Rounding out the chart is Bob Marley and The Wailers’ Exodus at No. 9.