With the publication of his most recent project, Viking (10th Anniversary), dancehall singer Vybz Kartel has earned his tenth spot on the Billboard Reggae Albums list.
After being released on January 31, 2025, the album peaked at No. 10 on the Reggae chart dated February 15. Released through Adidjahiem Records/TJ Records, this limited-edition effort commemorates ten years after the initial publication of Viking (Vybz Is King).
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Four distinctive songs from the 2015 project—Unstoppable, Enchanting, Gon’ Get Better (sampled by pop group Fifth Harmony), and Dancehall (now called Dancehall Cyah Stall)—as well as seven brand-new songs, such as God Is the Greatest, a tribute to the Almighty, the lively party anthem Str8 Vybz, and Polite, are mixed in Viking (10th Anniversary). Other recent hits include the poignant love ballad Dreams Are Made Of, clever songs like #AmOut and “It A Tape, and the seductive joint single P*rn Flick with Ishawna.
For Kartel, who only made a comeback to the music industry following his release from jail last year, the album represents a major turning point. He said of the album, “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.”
Kartel stated, “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.’”
King of the Dancehall (2016), which debuted at No. 2 and remained on the chart for 19 weeks, is still Kartel’s highest-charting album to date. Fever, a successful song from the album, made it to the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and went on to earn a gold certification in the United States.
Vybz Kartel Roots & Culture: The Voice of the Jamaican Ghetto (2013) had a brief but significant one-week run at No. 6 on the chart, while his other albums that charted on the Billboard charts are original Viking (Vybz Is King) (2015), which peaked at No. 3 and remained on the chart for six weeks, and Kingston Story (2012), which peaked at No. 7 after seven weeks.
Each of the following songs lasted one week on the chart: Kartel Forever: Trilogy (2013), Of Dons & Divas (2020), Born Fi Dis (Prelude) (2021), and Reggae Love Songs & Other Things (2014). They peaked at No. 11, No. 6, No. 9, and No. 7, respectively.
Legend by Bob Marley and the Wailers is still at the top of the Billboard Reggae Albums list for the 266th non-consecutive week as of February 15.
At number two comes Shaggy’s Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection, while at number three, Sean Paul’s The Trinity makes a powerful comeback.
With three entries, Stick Figure keeps a strong presence. World on Fire rises to number four, Wisdom comes in at seven and Set in Stone comes in at eight. Sean Paul makes another comeback with his classic album Dutty Rock, which lands at No. 6, while UB40’s Greatest Hits maintains its position at No. 5.
Exodus by Bob Marley and the Wailers, which is at No. 9, completes the ranking.
