Exclusive: Vybz Kartel’s Historic Barclays Center Concert Tickets Set Record For Dancehall

Brooklyn New York's Barclays Center is set to host a landmark
moment in dancehall history as Vybz Kartel headlines Reggae Fest
on April 11 and 12, marking his first return concert in the
United States in 20 years. The event, led by prominent promoter
CJ Milan, has already generated significant momentum, with
tickets selling out rapidly upon release.


Milan, who secured Kartel as the first solo headliner for
Reggaefest, a party event that started in Manhattan and now
travels across the U.S., opens up about the significance of the
booking. “Usually, I like to put something for everybody, but
Kartel is a generational (artist). You can rock out with him.”


The journey to finalizing the show started with Milan's ambition
and he record of staging successful reggae events in New York
City. “First of all, nobody could get in contact with Kartel,”
Milan revealed in an exclusive interview with World Music
Views. “I called every manager, and then I got frustrated. When I
get frustrated, I do it myself.”


Taking matters into her own hands, Milan connected with veteran
dancehall producer Skatta Burrell, who is also Kartel's road
manager, a move that expedited the process. “It went really
fast,” she said. “Then a couple of people (from Kartel's team)
came down for Massive.”


She recalled a pivotal moment in negotiations when producer TJ
Records sought clarity on logistics. “TJ was asking me questions
about certain things and said, ‘How soon can you get to Jamaica?’
I said I need three days.”


Determined to present a compelling case, Milan went to the
studio, curated a Kartel mix, and synchronized it with footage
from her last Barclays Center show, crafting a persuasive
presentation.