Vybz Kartel snaps back into familiar territory on “Big Business,” another hard hitting record off his “God And Time” album.
After the quiet introspection of “Watch Over Me” this record arrives like a gear change nobody saw coming but everybody needed. So the contrast between the two songs actually makes “Big Business” hit harder within the context of the album than it would standing alone.
The production is bold and aggressive. The riddim carries that classic dancehall energy that built Kartel’s reputation over two decades and the beat moves with a swagger that feels completely natural coming from an artist of his stature. Every element in the instrumental is built for maximum impact.
Kartel sounds locked in and fully commanding throughout. His delivery on “Big Business” is sharp and authoritative and he rides the beat with the confidence of someone who has never needed to prove himself but does it anyway just because he can. The performance reminds you exactly why his influence on dancehall is impossible to overstate.
Lyrically the song leans into themes of power, wealth and operating at a level most people only dream about. Although the subject matter is familiar territory for Kartel he approaches it with enough specificity and personality to make it feel fresh rather than recycled. The wordplay is sharp and the bars land with precision throughout.
Within “God And Time” “Big Business” serves an important purpose. It balances out the more spiritual and vulnerable moments on the album and shows that Kartel can move between different emotional spaces without losing his identity as an artist.
Stream “God And Time” and turn “Big Business” up loud. This is Kartel doing what Kartel does best and that is always worth your time.
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