Baderation 2025
The Caribbean is finally getting its chance to see one of its most dynamic performers on a stage since his shock release from jail last July 31st. On Saturday (technically Sunday 25th May, when he graced the stage) I got to see Adijah Palmer, aka Vybz Kartel at Providence Stadium in Guyana.
How did I get there?
Well. I was in Guyana for the Media Institute of the Caribbean’s Media Summit. A brilliant four-day experience where we delved into the issues facing Caribbean journalists. There were workshops and panel discussions, and I left with a new perspective on where media is going, and how we should be responding to those shifts. And of course, the opportunity to meet colleagues from around the region which I did.
However, I digress. Since I was in Guyana, I met up with a former colleague and he took some of us around. Well, obviously with the biggest dancehall star scheduled to perform while we were in the country, going to the concert was a no brainer, despite him being scheduled to perform at an already controversial show in Trinidad this coming weekend.
Therefore, on Saturday night I attended Baderation 2025, which took place Independence weekend. Guyana turned 59 May 26th (big congratulations to them!). And it was a blast.
Let me preface this by saying I am not a Kartel fan, per se. I liked the music but was appalled by the bleaching and the charges that had him in jail in the first place. I was cool with “him paying his debt to society while still releasing great music scenario”. But, I know that I am alone with this take.
Further, as a friend, who is a Kartel fan pointed out I am a radio listener, so those are the songs and versions I am familiar with. As such I was instructed to “please go and binge some Adijah Jaheim before you head out to watch the poet laureate.”
Newsflash. I did not listen.
This was a show I was wholly unprepared for but ended up loving. It was a tight production, which I appreciated because I was openly yawning in the car heading to the concert. Super cold air conditioning at night is my kryptonite.
As we discussed earlier, I really wasn’t familiar with his catalogue. But it wasn’t just Kartel on the cast, homegrown talent Carlvin Burnette, Mafi and Trinidad’s Yung Bredda opened the show.
My girl Grace Hamilton (Spice) was on stage by 1am and delivered the raunchiness we ordered. Did we recognise the antics, yes. Do we care, no. Of course she called some men to the stage to wine, one was a Trini, which caused me to scream so loudly in anger, I made a few concert friends, one of whom I nearly deafened. The other two were so amused with my instruction for him not to embarrass me. He wasn’t a great representation, but he for sure had fun. Wins all around.
What was really charming was her creating space in her set to speak about Adrianna Young. Little Adrianna was found dead in a hotel pool under suspicious circumstances April 24th. An autopsy later confirmed that she drowned, but just today her body is being transported to the USA for another exam to determine the cause of death. Her death upset the region, and Grace felt the need, as a mother, to honour a life lost way too soon. It was beautiful.
And then it was time for the World Boss to grace the stage, which we told was being witnessed by the President’s wife no less. Premium audience for a premium performance.
Kartel is a confident performer with more hits than you can count, so his work is easy. I say this as someone who had to wait for the chorus to be sure of what song was being performed. This while surrounded by people who could have been drafted to sing lead or background should the need arise.
Like Spice, post-prison Kartel seems very legacy minded. He too paid tribute to Adrianna during his set.
Pre-show there was a competition to select five singers to perform at the show. More importantly, they were brought on to sing their own songs. All were very competent performers, especially Carlvin, who I mentioned earlier. But the audience wasn’t moved by the two female performers, but Kartel was open in his praise of them. The last performer was King Drac, who is blind by the way, he stole the show with his song “Scrape Head” which is local slang for the village ram. He needs regional air-play.
Kartel also brought some more established but still new performers on stage with him, like Sean Storm, Ishawna and Rushen, but I got my price of admission when Spice came back on to perform “Ramping Shop”. I (excuse my language) lost my fucking mind! There are certain Caribbean classics sang by duos: Its Carnival by Machel and Destra comes to mind, Ramping Shop is another, seeing them perform together is bucket list things, even if you don’t care for bucket lists.
The chemistry between those two is tangible. Fantastic song, fantastic performance, wins all around. And I still got to hear “Clarks” “Pool Party” before he ended with “Last Man Standing”.
10/10, no notes it was such a major cultural experience. And I was in general, based on my friend’s advice, he guided us away from VIP, again, no complaints with that decision. Stood-up whole night and danced. I can’t wait to compare notes with those who will see him in Port-of-Spain in a few days’ time.
