‘Building’ back the Vybz Good energy at Kartel-led dancehall event

The ‘Return of The Building’ was more than an attempt to revive Kingston’s club culture – it was a celebration of dancehall in all its facets.

On Saturday night, the National Arena became part nightclub, part stage show and part dancehall playground — a pulsating melting pot of entertainers, dancers, selectors, promoters and the who’s who of Jamaica’s entertainment scene. At the centre of it all was Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer, the Worl’ Boss himself.

From the onset, patrons were greeted by aesthetics befitting Kartel — club lights slicing through smoke, booming sound systems, and an atmosphere designed to recreate the anything-goes energy of the old Building, the popular nightclub which was once named Asylum. And the sold-out crowd came dressed for the occasion, with jaw-dropping fashion, intoxication, and a cacophony of blanks bussing as tunes rolled one after another.

Olympic sprint legend Usain Bolt was among the familiar faces in the crowd, while selectors including DJ Boom Boom and Chromatic kept the dancehall faithful moving. Veteran dancehall act and Internet sensation Future Fambo also earned some of the biggest forwards of the night, while dancers Skee, Get There Squad and Cyah Tired added their own flavour.

For Boom Boom, the night was significant, particularly against the backdrop of current lyrical tensions in dancehall.

“It sold out. Nice! I have to big up Vybz Kartel and the whole organisation team. Tonight, we represented for dancehall and the whole reggae music scene,” he said. Boom Boom’s decision to spin songs by Masicka and Alkaline — two artistes embroiled in lyrical tension with Kartel over the years — was perhaps symbolic of the unity he believes the event represented.

“Kartel nah pree no bad energy. Kartel just want dancehall music go on top. Is that we promoting: dancehall. And, if me have one wish, it would be for all dancehall, reggae, lovers’ rock artistes to just unite. Let us build our brand, our culture,” said Boom Boom.

Then came Kartel. His appearance blended nostalgia with the present, as he revisited the energy associated with The Building while using the platform to deliver messages of faith, prosperity and responsibility.

“Number one step in the formula for richness is God,” he declared before launching into God Is The Greatest.

“But that can’t stop crime from go on; and that can’t stop good from go on either. It is you who have to just choose your side.”

He urged patrons to “count your blessings” and dedicated a song to youth dreaming of escaping poverty. Later, joined onstage by his oldest son, Likkle Vybz, Kartel turned from superstar to father, urging men to take responsibility for their children.

“If you are man enough to get a girl pregnant, you have to be man enough to take care of the youth,” he said.

And, in a night filled with big moments, his parting picture was perhaps the biggest.

“You might just get a son like Usain Bolt ... . You might get a son like Kartel, or you might get a son like mine.”