Vybz Kartel received the corporate treatment to celebrate his 49th birthday on January 7, 2025, but his birthday dinner was the day before.

The dancehall legend celebrates his first birthday as a free man in thirteen years after being released from prison in July of last year. Corporate giant Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited (CPJ) hosted a birthday dinner celebration for Vybz Kartel and his close family and friends, including Skatta Burrell, his fiancée Sidem Ozturk, her sister, his children, grandchildren, and parents.

Senior brand manager for Str8 Vybz Rum, Andrew Wilson, said, “Supporting Vybz Kartel allows us to align with the vibrant Jamaican culture and showcase our commitment to celebrating local talent that inspires and connects communities.”

“The birthday event was a tremendous success, exceeding our expectations in terms of turnout, engagement, and positive feedback,” Wilson told the Observer.

Vybz Kartel shared several photos and videos from the intimate dinner while reflecting on his freedom. The “Fever” deejay later continued his birthday celebration at Meca nightclub in Kingston with his fiancee and some close friends.

Vybz Kartel had a monumental year in 2024 despite spending half of the year behind bars. His meteoric rise to the top of dancehall in the second half of the year marks a high point for the genre. The Portmore deejay closed out the year with his hugely successful Freedom Street concert at the National Stadium in Kingston, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest Jamaicans ever to take up the mic.

There has been chatter about King of Dancehall after Bounty Killer crowned Kartel at the show. However, Beenie Man has pushed back against it, proclaiming himself the real king of the genre.