After more than a decade away, dancehall heavyweight Laden made a thunderous return to Reggae Sumfest, commanding the stage like a man determined to rewrite his legacy.
O’keefe Aarons, known to fans simply as Laden, last appeared at the world-renowned festival 13 years ago. On his long-awaited return, the deejay wasted no time reminding the crowd why his voice once echoed across airwaves islandwide. Draped in coordinated black with shimmering silver trims and a grey tam perched firmly atop his head, Laden declared with grit, “A my time now, Sumfest!”
With that, the floodgates opened. He surged into classics such as Time to Shine, We Remember, Greatness, and Come Mek Me Touch, delivering each with sharpened energy. The performance wasn’t just a return—it was a statement of survival, resilience, and resurgence.
Laden’s journey back to the spotlight has been anything but smooth. Following a 2020 conviction for illegal firearm and ammunition possession, he served nearly 30 months at the Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre before regaining his freedom in April 2023. But rather than disappear into obscurity, he stepped back into the studio, dropping a string of new releases in 2025 including Party Sauce, Uno Dos Tres, Money & Gyal, and Rich—tracks that signal both artistic evolution and unyielding determination.
At Sumfest, Laden didn’t just perform; he proved that redemption is more than a buzzword—it’s a headline act.
