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.
