Vybz Kartel, one of Dancehall’s most polarizing and influential figures, is adding fuel to the conversation around the genre’s ‘King’ with the release of his latest track, Amout. After teasing the song on social media days ago, the official music video premiered on Friday, showcasing Kartel in full form as he spits lyrics about being the ‘King of Dancehall’.
In the fiery track, Kartel spares no words in asserting his dominance. At one point, he delivers the hard-hitting line, “Yuh wah fi tek mi crown which is how, pick up the eagle mayday pigeons down,” making it clear that he sees no equal in the genre and if anyone tries to take the crown, he’ll be using lethal force.
“Addi a the best mi deeven affi prove it.”
Fans and critics alike have speculated that this song is a direct response to Beenie Man, who previously stated in an interview that Dancehall has “one king and one clown.” Kartel’s rebuttal is sharp, stating, “Mi nuh si the circus mi aim blind killing clowns, all if yuh diss mi nuh tek check watch it bounce… keys a lyrics mi ship watch him with him ounce.”
The music video is laced with symbolism, with Kartel prominently donning a crown as a visual representation of his reign as he watches his own movie within a theater. He also makes a notable statement in the song, referring to himself as still being the “teacher,” reinforcing his position as the leader of the Dancehall school.
Lines like “Teacher run the school still” underline his confidence in his legacy, even as debates about the current king of the genre continue.
In the song, he throw a jab at Bill Cosby, stating that he doesn’t need to “knock out” any woman to gain sexual pleasure, a bold reference that adds a controversial yet socially aware layer to the song.
The release of Amout comes as part of Kartel’s Viking (Vybz Is King) 10th Anniversary project, produced by TJ Records and Adidjahiem Records. The timing of the release coincides with ongoing discussions about Dancehall’s reigning figures, with names like Beenie Man, Yellowman, Masicka, Bounty Killer, and Sean Paul also being mentioned in the mix.
Fans have already flooded social media with reactions, praising Kartel for his consistency and lyrical prowess. One fan commented, “Long live Kartel, love from Nairobi, Kenya,” while another declared, “Vybz Kartel run Dancehall, yuh hear and learn that one BBC king 🐐.”
After it;s release on YouTube, the song quickly rocked up over 50k views after just one hour, paving the way for what seemingly is going to be a top release from the flamboyant deejay.
Watch the music video for ‘Amount’ below:
