NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – From rap to reggae, Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn will have it all in the coming weeks.

The arena’s first reggae concert, Sounds of Reggae, will be staring Mister Lover, Lover himself: Shaggy. Also performing will be reggae stars Maxi Priest and UB40.

More: CBSNewYork’s Guide To The Barclays Center

Mr. Boombastic joined us on The Couch to discuss the upcoming show.

Like many of the first visitors to Barclays Center, Shaggy said he was really impressed with Brooklyn’s new event space.

“I loved it, there’s not a bad seat in the house,” he said of the arena. “As big as it is, you feel like you’re in a small theater. It’s wonderful. Well-done.”

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For him, the Sounds of Reggae Concert is special for two reasons.

“We’re a big east Indian community in Brooklyn, so we have to make our present felt,” Shaggy said. “And two,  it’s Jamaica’s 50th anniversary…and that makes it even more special.”

When asked about his position as an unofficial representative for Jamaica, Shaggy remained modest, while noting his pride in his roots.

“I think that anybody once we leave Jamaica, automatically, any citizen because an ambassador for the flag, for Jamiaca. It’s a country that’s so rich in culture,” he said. “We even have a bobsled team, and we ain’t even got snow. We do everything in extreme.”

Another star doing her part to represent reggae in the mainstream? Rihanna.

“She’s doing what she’s gotta do. You gotta remember, in radio there’s no format for reggae. we gotta take it any way we can [rihanna] did an amazing job.she’s just wonderful.”

For more information on Shaggy, the Sounds of Reggae Concert and ticket information, click here. For more of the interview and special performance from Shaggy, check out the video below.