Ras Emmanuel’s ‘Dancehall Forever’ introduces Vybz Kartel at New Year’s Eve Freedom Street Concert

Jamaican-born, New Jersey-based dancehall recorders Ras Emmanuel and Lushy Banton are counting their lucky stars as a dubplate of their single “Dancehall Forever” was used to introduce Vybz Kartel at his historic Freedom Street Concert on New Year’s Eve at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.

Jamaican-born entertainment publicist Anthony Turner told Caribbean Life on Monday that the single is “a nod to the genre that helped shape Emmanuel’s personal and professional life.”

The New York-based Turner said that “lyrics from the song, which declares, ‘Dancehall come fi live, never can die’, blasted from the speakers for 30,000 plus dancehall fans inside the National Stadium and thousands watching the live stream around the globe, as the sharply dressed Kartel, donning a three-piece pinstripe suit emerged from under the stage for his first performance in 13 years.”

Ras Emmanuel also told Caribbean Life: “Never in the history of dancehall was a dubplate used to introduce an artist of the caliber of Vybz Kartel.

“New Year’s Eve 2025 was nothing short of legendary for me,” he said. “I am humbled.”

Emmanuel thanked Nuffy for making the moment happen.

“I have to big up Nuffy who made this life changing moment possible,” he said. “A one MC me sey, Nuffy, the king of all MCs.”

Emmanuel also heaped praises on Paul Andrew Abrams, also known as “Drewgad”, from Imark Studio in New Jersey, for producing the dubplate.

“Paul is a musical genius who has produced tracks for Nigy Boy, Skillebeng, Nesta from Guyana and other big superstars,” he said. “He did a great job with ‘Dancehall Forever’”.

Nuffy told Caribbean Life: “I wanna tell you, the dubplate mash up the place.

“When the song was played, it was not normal inside the stadium,” he said. “Ras Emmanuel, big up yourself because this song has places to go.”

Nuffy said it was his idea to use “Dancehall Forever” to introduce Kartel.

“I called Ras Emmanuel and said, ‘do the dubplate and send it to me because what yuh singing about is about Vybz Kartel,’” he said. “Kartel is the man for dancehall at this moment.”

In sharing his goals for 2025, Ras Emmanuel said: “I plan to keep pushing this Dancehall Forever, because it keeps opening new doors for me.

“My goal is to perform at Reggae Sumfest,” he added. “I also plan to visit Africa later this year.”

Among dancehall stars who performed at Freedom Street were Spice, Bounty Killer, Popcaan, Tommy Lee Sparta, Chronic Law, Shawn Storm, Jah Vinci, Sheba, Gaza Indu, Lisa Hyper, Skeng, Likkle Addi and Likkle Vybz, Busta Rhymes and Shatta Wale.