With over 10 million albums sold and a voice that you could recognise underwater, Shaggy’s music has gotten bodies moving right around the globe. January 2009 will see the Jamaican reggae artist travel to Newcastle with the Ragga Muffin festival. Nick Milligan spoke to Shaggy about his career so far.
Many of us can remember hearing ‘Boombastic’ for the first time. Who could forget that distinctive, guttural, sub-baritone voice? That fusion of reggae and hip-hop? The artist was Shaggy, and in July of 1995, his third album, Boombastic, rocketed him to superstardom.
Born Orville Richard Burrell, Shaggy moved with his family from Kingston, Jamaica, to New York as a late teenager. Though he had an interest in music, he chose to join the military instead. Shaggy served as a Field Artillery Cannon Crewman in the United State Marine Corps, which took him to Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War. During the monotony of marching, Shaggy developed his recognizable vocal style.
As Shaggy explains over the phone from his home in Kingston, “All of my friends were smoking pot and getting themselves arrested. I made a conscious decision to join the army because I felt it wouldn’t be long before I ended up behind bars. But I was by no means the model marine.”
Before returning to Australia as a part of the Ragga Muffin tour alongside Ziggy Marley, the singer is enjoying some relaxation time back in Jamaica. “Kingston is the kind of town where something is happening every night. You never know what can happen,” chuckles Shaggy.
Although we associate Shaggy with sexy lyrics and music videos that are bountiful with busty babes, he asserts that he is at the mercy of what people like to listen to in commercial music. “I write about different things now, but it hasn’t always been easy. I tried getting more conceptual in what I was writing, but then I realised that it’s not what people want. They just want music they can shake their arse to. That’s been a hard thing to deal with,” says the singer.
Like other 90s artists, Shaggy has watched the rapid emergence of a digitally-orientated music industry. Does he mind if people can download his songs for free? “I haven’t paid for a CD in five years,” chuckles Shaggy, candidly. “You’d be an idiot to pay for it! You’ll always have sales, but you can’t expect people to pay when they can get them for free. But it’s like when restaurants started opening. Some people still cook at home, some go out.”
Shaggy has certainly experienced highs and lows in popularity, but has endured as an artist since 1993 when he released his debut single - a dancehall version of the ska hit ‘Oh Carolina’. Shaggy has reinvented his sound many times since then, though his reggae vibe and deep voice remain a constant.
“No two Shaggy songs are the same,” says the singer. “The tone of my voice is always there, but the music is different. I love that. I like to collaborate with other people, which keeps things fresh. But I don’t try to work with superstars, because they come with a huge ego and huge management. I work with people because they’re talented. I liked working with Rayvon. He performed ‘Angel’ with me. We started out together so we have this great chemistry.”
Shaggy has been to Australia a number of times and looks forward to returning to Australia alongside Ziggy Marley, Eddy Grant and Ali Campbell - it’s a list of people he’s either played shows with or knows personally. “It should be an enjoyable tour and good music,” says Shaggy. “Australia has always been a friend, so I can’t wait to get back.”
Shaggy performs as a part of the Ragga Muffin tour, performing at Newcastle Entertainment Centre on January 31, 2008. Best Of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection is out now.
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Shaggy is the best reggae artist in the world, I dont care what nobody say.
Mi Love him to death. He is so talented. He is so so handsome and so sexy, I'm his number one fan, their is no bitches out there that loves him more than me.
Mi Love him, Mi love him, Mi love him.