Spice Gets Candid About Beating Odds, Breaking Barriers, & Owning the Crown; Reflects On Friendship With Vybz Kartel
Queen of Dancehall, Spice, has officially touched down in Saint Kitts and is ready to blaze the stage tonight as one of the headliners for Night Two of the Saint Kitts Music Festival.
Speaking at a press briefing ahead of her performance, the internationally acclaimed artiste reflected on the power of women supporting women, a force she credits for much of her success. “I started in this business 25 years ago, and I felt like it was because of women empowerment why I’m here today,” she said. “I’m just the living testimony of what it means to have support from women.”
Her passion for lifting others led to the creation of the Grace Hamilton Women Empowerment Foundation, which focuses on helping women through education and entrepreneurship. “Every year I give back,” she shared. “The last one I did, I gave away 5 million Jamaican dollars worth of vouchers for school and young women. I know what it’s like to be homeless-that’s why my slogan is from homeless to greatness.”
This year marks 25 years since the Queen of Dancehall first burst onto the scene in 1999, and she’s using the moment to reflect on a legacy carved out of pure determination, authenticity, and fierce advocacy for women in the genre.
Her new album, Mirror 25, is both a celebration and a mirror to the path she’s travelled to get to where she’s at. “It has been a journey,” she shared. “There were times I used to literally go into dancehall events and protest for a girl segment.” In an industry long dominated by men, Spice fought her way onto stages to make space for female voices.
Back then, she recalled, it was mostly Lady Saw holding it down for women in dancehall. “There wasn’t a long list of female artistes to look to,” she said. “But now, you can roll off names like Jada Kingdom, Shaneil Muir, and Shenseea. That evolution didn’t come easy, it came from years of pushing boundaries and creating space.”
And Spice didn’t just open doors, she broke them down and proudly reminded fans that she is the first hardcore female dancehall artist to earn a Grammy nomination, a feat she sees as validation not just for herself, but for every woman-especially dark-skinned women—who were told they didn’t fit the mould. “I’ve kicked down doors and remained true to myself. I never bleached. I didn’t change who I was. And because I didn’t, other girls who look like me can now see that it’s possible.”
Commenting on her decades-long relationship with Vybz Kartel, Spice shared her excitement at finally reuniting with her long-time friend and collaborator.
“We grew together in this industry,” she said, recalling the early days when they were both hustling for recognition. “I’ve known Kartel since before he became Vybz Kartel. We used to struggle just to get a spot on stage shows-so what people see now is years of chemistry, years of hard work, and years of loyalty.”
Spice has been one of Kartel’s most vocal supporters during his 13-year incarceration, carrying his image on tour, mentioning his name at every show, and using her platform to keep his legacy alive. “That song fed my entire family,” she declared. “So my loyalty came from a place of real gratitude. I traveled the world with his face printed on banners, holding up signs, and saying his name on every stage I touched.”
Now that Kartel is free, the two are finally able to bring their legendary synergy back to the stage. “To be able to perform with him in real life, in living color-it’s not a small thing,” Spice said. “It’s a moment I’m going to celebrate, not just for myself but for what we’ve both overcome. Tonight, we’re going to light up Saint Kitts and create history together.”
Spice is right, tonight’s performance promises to be a landmark moment in Caribbean music history. She described it as a celebration of freedom and resilience.
“…we’re going to shell Saint Kitts. It’s going to be something unforgettable.”
Just weeks before his scheduled appearance in Saint Kitts, thousands of fans in Trinidad were left disappointed when Vybz Kartel was forced to pull out of a highly anticipated performance. The promoters reportedly failed to meet key contractual obligations, prompting the artiste to withdraw from the show. The incident left many fans disheartened, but has only added to the anticipation in Saint Kitts, where loyal supporters from across the world have now converged for what promises to be a historic, high-energy performance from the proclaimed King of Dancehall.
If you’re not in Saint Kitts, where are you? No worries, you can live vicariously through us.
Stay tuned, Your Caribbean Guide will share all the major highlights from night two.
