"The OG work wife and work husband"— Vybz Kartel and Spice association explored as internet reacts to duo's reunion photo 

Dancehall recording artist, singer, and songwriter Spice recently reunited with fellow Jamaican and dancehall deejay Vybz Kartel at the latter’s New Year’s Eve concert. Spice took to Instagram on December 31, 2024, and shared a carousel of images with the Dancehall Hero singer highlighting their reunion.

“Reunited after 13 years apart. Tonight @vybzkartel and I are back together on one stage #FreedomStreet #KingandQueen,” her post was captioned.

Among the pictures were Spice embracing Vybz Kartel, giving him a peck on his cheek, rehearsing their performance, and a reel showing her excitedly running towards him.

Amid this now-viral post of their reunion, the internet is having diverse reactions. For instance, Instagram user @naldo18__ commented on The Shade Room’s repost of Spice’s pictures and said:

A netizen comments on the reunion of Spice and Kartel. (Image via Instagram/@theshaderoom)

Many people joined the conversation and shared similar reactions on the platform.

Fans celebrate the reunion of Spice and Vybz. (Image via Instagram/@theshaderoom)

Others weighed in on the social networking site X, celebrating Spice and Kartel’s reunion.

“Spice really loves Vybz Kartel. This is just now,” a person wrote.

“Not gonna lie, seeing Spice and Vybz Kartel embrace brought tears to my eyes. From their humble beginnings to now standing together as the undisputed King and Queen of dancehall—it’s a full-circle moment for the culture #FreedomStreet,” one person wrote.

“I'm looking forward to the Spice and Vybz Kartel set so keenly, as this is making up for all the music videos of their collaboration, he couldn't physically be in. #FreedomStreet,” wrote another.

“Spice really come wid the Vybz more than Kartel,” a netizen wrote.

Vybz Kartel’s 'Freedom Street' concert was held at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, with over 35,000 live audience. It marked Vybz's return after spending over 13 years behind bars for the 2011 murder of his associate Clive “Lizard” Williams.

In 2014, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, but the UK Judicial Committee of the Privy Council overturned his conviction in March 2024 on grounds of juror misconduct.

The committee asked the Jamaican Court of Appeal to determine whether the case would be retried. However, on July 31, 2024, Vybz Kartel was released from prison after the appeal court decided against a retrial.

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Exploring the friendship of Vybz Kartel and Spice

Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, and Spice, whose real name is Grace Hamilton, have shared a personal and professional friendship for nearly two decades. They collaborated on several dancehall projects, including duets, Ramping Shop, and Conjugal Visit.

During a March 2020 interview with Red Bull Music for a YouTube series titled “A Conversation With,” Spice talked about her association with Vybz Kartel.

“Vybz Kartel and I, we knew each other before the fame. We both come from Portmore. When he was trying to make a name for himself and I was trying to make a name for myself, we used to go to stage shows anywhere we coulda find it,” she shared.

Spice added that this was way before they adopted their respective stage names. She also shared that before their fame, there was one night when she traveled from Portmore to Ocho Rios, sitting on Vybz’s lap as the car was packed.

Spice recalled how this incident helped them form a “special bond” before they became dancehall stars, adding that they never had a romantic relationship.

“So, Vybz Kartel and I, we knew each other before the fame. That’s why me always say, a lot of people see the glory but they don’t know the story. We had a relationship before 'Ramping Shop,'” she noted.

Spice mentioned that after they performed at a sold-out concert in 2009, Vybz asked her to record music together. She explained that despite not liking the composition of Ramping Shop at first, as she thought the “beat was slow,” she gave it her all. Spice also credited Kartel for changing the flow and lyrics of modern-day dancehall.

Later, during her August 2024 interview with Onstage TV, Spice reiterated their friendship, “coming out of” their hometown, Portmore, and trying to make it. She also gave Kartel the “glory” of giving her the “international recognition.” Spice shared that she talked to Vybz after his release despite not meeting him in public and was “happy” to see him “laughing” and be together with his “family.”

She further mentioned how she had been saying for over a decade to “Free Worl’ Boss,” which is Kartel's nickname. Around the same time, she shared similar sentiments during a video interview with Boomshots.

She also posted a selfie video of herself on Instagram in late July, celebrating his release from prison, where she said,

“Me just land to the bloodclaat news… It’s gonna be a holiday. A national holiday for Kartel.”

Spice was on her way to the Popcaan’s Unruly Fest at the Crystal Palace Stadium in London.

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On New Year’s Eve, Spice joined Vybz Kartel on the stage at his Freedom Street Concert. Ahead of the comeback show, he told The New York Times that it was important as a “whole generation of people” never saw him perform live. Worl’ Boss also told the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner that his latest concert was “giving Madonna energy, it’s giving world-class because it’s a full, four-corner, almost 360 stage vibe.”

He added that it had all the elements of a successful concert, from the lighting and sound to the lasers and surprises, claiming it would be no different than an NFL Super Bowl halftime show and an “experience you don’t want to miss.”

Vybz Kartel's May 2024 album, Party With Me, which he released from behind bars, has been nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Meanwhile, Spice marked her 25th anniversary in the dancehall/reggae industry with her latest album, Mirror 25, which dropped on August 9, 2024.