On Friday night in Brooklyn, New York, an extraordinary tell-tale of Caribbean influence showed boldly on the outskirts and inside the downtown Brooklyn, Barclays Centre. Jamaican dancehall king, Vybz Kartel, having survived incarceration and illness over the past 13 years, had returned to the spotlight and would be appearing on stage at Barclays – something thousands, unable to travel to the artiste’s Freedom Street return concert last December, in Jamaica, had been anticipating for months.

Adidja Palmer, famously known for his Gaza-touting refrains and suggestive lewd lyrical traps, thoroughly enjoyed by the opposite sex, had been freed of a murder conviction on account of the intervention of the London Privy Council in 2024. Upon his release from behind bars, he called on the youth to stay on the side of the law and refrain from ‘badness.’ In January, Palmer was granted his US visa. He now resides in Florida, something he confirmed last Friday, during an interview with hosts of the Breakfast Club, Charlemagne, DJ Envy and Jess Hilarious.

This past weekend, Vybz Kartel returned to his glory, single-handedly luring a massive crowd on both Friday and Saturday nights to the Barclays Centre. “Back to back, never done before – sold out, so let’s talk about this,” said female Dancehall superstar, Spice in a social media video. She too had made an impact on both nights, reveling in the spirit of camaraderie and culture.

Last year, the same venue had been sold out with double shows delivered by Reggae and Dancehall icon, Buju Banton. Like Vybz Kartel, he too had been imprisoned for many years and upon his re-entry into the United States after approximately 6 years of freedom, Buju’s desirability was unmatched. This past Friday, in what no one expected, Buju Banton would appear in support of Kartel at Barclays Centre. “This is Buju Banton doing it for the culture; supporting Vybz Kartel here in Brooklyn tonight. Let’s get it right,” he said in an online video post.

Many years before, in the early years of his emergence, Vybz Kartel had been infamously reprimanded by Buju on stage, something that many fans of Kartel had not forgotten. Fast forward more than a decade later and this simple show of support has been declared a winning move for Jamaica’s culture and the country’s brand. “Don; meh mentor,” hollered Kartel upon greeting the “Circumstances” singer. An embrace and a humble admission by Buju would lead to Kartel’s admission that Buju Banton has always been the artiste he’s looked up to. “One Buju Banton; my favourite DJ ever of all time. Him inspire me,” said Palmer.

Vybz Kartel has immensely impacted Caribbean brand awareness in present day, much like Bob Marley did over 30 years ago. Buju Banton, similarly increased caribbean brand value over the past 25 years, creating historic moments globally on stages around the world, and even winning a Grammy award for his album, ‘Before the Dawn.’
Most recently, Vybz Kartel released a new single honoring God. On stage on Friday night in Brooklyn, the artiste broke down in tears while performing the track. Fans who attended the show have since called that particular part of the event, the most impactful.

Cardi B is expanding her empire with a new collaboration with Revolve Group, launching a beauty line, a fashion brand, and more.

The partnership, announced on Tuesday (April 1), introduces Cardi’s first-ever personally owned apparel and beauty brands, while also marking Revolve’s debut in the beauty industry. Together, they aim to build a billion-dollar empire.

In an interview with WWD, Cardi emphasized how important quality is to her when it comes to fashion.

“I could shop every single day, but there’s always that one pair of jeans that I love. There’s that tank top I can’t let go of, no matter how many stains are on it, because I just love it,” she shared. “I want my brand to have that one piece that you buy, that you love, and it makes sense. If it’s a size small, it should be a true size small; if it’s a size large, it should be a true size large.”

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Cardi explained the deeper meaning behind her business ventures: “Coming from a Caribbean family, the goal is always to OWN! Our belief in leaving this earth and leaving something for our children is key. What our parents and grandparents worked so hard for was real ownership. I’ve been blessed with success, but I want to leave my kids more than just property and a music catalog.”

She continued, “I want to leave them something they can carry on for generations, something their mother built from the ground up. I’m excited to announce my new business ventures! I wanted to get into something I’m truly passionate about, something I know inside and out. It’s taken me years to perfect and tailor, and now we’re here! Thank you to my partners and team for believing in my vision.”

Cardi also reflected on her personal journey, saying, “I remember a time when I focused on making everyone else proud and meeting their expectations, but in this new season, the only person I’m focused on outdoing and making proud is myself!” She added, “P.S. my dress is from my line! Coming Soon!”

While fans have eagerly awaited Cardi B’s second album for nearly eight years, she revealed that it’s basically done. Speaking on X Spaces, she teased her upcoming project, saying, “The features on my album are really good. I don’t have a lot of features, but I’m working with some artistes I’ve worked with before and some I haven’t. The ones I haven’t worked with are going to really surprise y’all.”

Although no official release date has yet been set, Cardi expressed full confidence in her new album. “It’s such a vibe. I’m 100 percent confident in this album. I don’t think what I’ve got out there is anything like it,” said the mom of three.