Vybz Kartel – Night 2, O2 Arena (Freedom Street Tour) Review

London, Friday Night – 5 September 2025

The second night of Vybz Kartel’s Freedom Street Tour at the O2 Arena carried all the weight of expectation, and it did not disappoint.

The arrival set the tone perfectly as Ricky Platinum warmed up the arena with sharp mixing, before Seani B added his trademark humour and crowd engagement. Their banter and back-and-forth created not only nostalgia but also a genuine sense of respect: one selector on the rise alongside a stalwart of dancehall broadcasting. Ricky Platinum’s supreme selection included the Shabba Madda Pot instrumental, before he exploded the O2 with one high-energy drop that reminded everyone why he is now considered one of the best in the game.

Then, the moment London had been waiting for. Kartel made his entrance — emerging once again from a prison cell stage set. This time, instead of Dollar Sign, the intro flipped into Akon’s Locked Up remix, with Kartel ad-libbing “Let me out” before the grill lifted. The roar from the crowd was deafening.

Launching into Gun Session and rolling through anthem after anthem, the “World Boss” delivered with precision. Ramping Shop, Ever Blessed, Tun Up the Scheme, Virginity, Bend Like Banana — Kartel made sure the women, as he put it, were “pleased first.”

Midway through, a brawl broke out in the crowd. The sound system was cut, leaving only Kartel’s mic live. Rather than leave the stage, he refused, calming the arena with the words “Me nuh like this”. It was a moment of control that showed maturity, and once the tension eased, the music resumed.

The night became historic when Shawn Storm joined Kartel on stage, the two sharing a spotlight after their shared time away. UK artists Krept & Konan and Sneakbo also lit up the crowd, Sneakbo’s Touch a Button freestyle drawing pure frenzy. Choreographer Amber Rae and her dancers brought the I Know challenge to life, though one felt their energy could have been used across the entire “gyal segment.”

Kartel addressed the “TikTok reviewers” directly, proving that he and his team are paying attention to fan feedback on set lists, attire, and arrangements. He tailored parts of the performance to UK audiences with songs like Party from Good Good Productions, while some numbers still showed vocal strain, with keys and octaves needing adjustment. Yet the crowd compensated, singing along word for word — even when Kartel seemed to lose track of a lyric.

Compared to Thursday’s show, Friday felt more refined, with higher energy and smoother crowd interaction. But there remain areas for development:

•Greater use of dancers and backup singers to fill out the performance.

•A dedicated hype man to support lyrics and crowd work.

•Stronger visual production — video backdrops, synced graphics, and AV could amplify the “King of Dancehall” brand.

•Merchandising opportunities were notably missed. No merch truck or memorabilia outside the venue meant fans left without souvenirs of what was a landmark night.

By the close, Kartel’s emotional delivery of God Is the Greatest left the O2 in awe. Diplomatic in his praise, he highlighted Jamaica, NYC, and other stops, carefully avoiding controversy but still acknowledging London’s passion.

This second sold-out night at the O2 may well be his strongest performance yet on the Freedom Street Tour — proof that Kartel is still learning, still adapting, and still capable of commanding one of the world’s biggest stages. For a generation who grew up with his music, to see him deliver hardcore dancehall to a packed O2 Arena was nothing short of historic.

 Vybz Kartel didn’t just perform — he cemented a legacy.