As the journey to Freedom Street inches towards its December 31 climax, Vybz Kartel, alongside the team at Downsound Entertainment, has promised a historic evening of musical excellence.

Even as he urged fans to “step into the future” with him by ushering in 2025 together, Vybz Kartel revealed that he will ‘time travel’ through all the phases of his more than two-decade-long career, to deliver three hours of premium entertainment.

“I will definitely be telling a story. You’re gonna get the Vybz Kartel from his jersey era. Mi ago run off and come out back inna mi camouflage fi di war angel era, mi ago run out and come out back inna mi button shirt from the Kingston Story album era, the straight jeans and fitted era. It’s going to be for me, Kartel from every stage of my career in chronological order,” he said.

Going through a calculation of the length of time he was incarcerated, the freshly freed deejay said he is looking forward to the show as much as his fans are.

“As Joe said, the show is Vybz Kartel’s return after 12 years, 10 months, six days, 14 hours and 12 minutes [but who’s counting],” he said. “You’re going to get three hours of just great entertainment. I don’t wanna jump the gun but a lot of world-renowned rappers will be passing through.”

In addition to special guest appearances from international superstars, Kartel also shared that members of his Portmore Empire will be making cameo appearances throughout the night. Dubbing it a reunion of sorts, the deejay said the ‘usual suspects’ from the Gaza will be in attendance.

“It’s going to be an amazing reunion. All the dancehall enthusiasts, more importantly and especially the Portmore Empire people, it’s going to be crazy. The usual suspects will be there. Expect everyone that you know and love through the Portmore Empire. Sheba is gonna be there, Tommy Lee, Popcaan, Lisa Hyper, Shawn Storm, so people affi come out and expect greatness on the night.”

The show will also feature performances from Spice, Skillibeng and his two sons, Likkle Vybz and Likkle Addi.

Never one to run short on charisma, Vybz Kartel also shared that because it is customary for Jamaicans to ring in the new year in church, Freedom Street will also consist of a praise and worship segment of sorts. The entertainer said there will be prayer as he has ushered in a new phase of his life, which includes showing gratitude to God.

“When mi did inna prison, mi literally pray to God and mi say father God if yuh carry mi outta da situation yah, mi never stop praise yuh, mi never stop shout yuh name. Mi talk to God, read mi Bible and him answer mi prayer. Mi forever grateful fi dat. Mi tattoo the thing pan mi face say ‘love God’ twice. Mi just a try live mi best life.”

Speaking of living his best life and embracing change, the deejay says he has matured significantly over the last decade. With the press launch also doubling as the launch for his rebranded Str8 Vybz White Rum, Kartel shared that the rum’s resurgence is testament to his growth.

“This is no longer Street Vybz Rum, it’s Str8 Vybz and it represents change. It represents maturity, resilience and it represents family. The creation of this rum from the flavours to the labels, to the taste, was a family project. It’s not just about the hype with this brand, Vybz Kartel brings the hype but Angostura brings unity and family,” he said. “It’s about the man who sweep the distillery, it’s about the woman who packages the rum … it’s an entire family project. The quality is there and a lot of people will benefit from this product.”

Str8 Vybz Run was created in collaboration with Angostura Bitters spearheaded by Rahim Mohammed, executive manager. The rum will be served and sold as part of the wide array of liquor at Freedom Street.

Str8 Vybz rum has four flavours named after Kartel hit singles such as Unstoppable, Electric, Fever and Ramping Shop.

Gates to Freedom Street set for the National Stadium will be opened to the public at 4:00 pm. Patrons can purchase tickets online at: https://touchstonelink.com/event/freedom-street  as well as physical locations islandwide including Fontana Waterloo, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Barbican, Mandeville, Savanna-La-Mar, and Portmore and El Paso Montego Bay.