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In Jamaica he's called the "International
Reggae Superstar", in Europe he made himself immortal
with the monster-smashs "Oh' Carolina" and "Mr.
Boombastic".
Germaican Observer-Girl Nadine met the
charismatic entertainer. No doubt: Shaggy has nuff things
to tell...
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Standing in front of just one of his numerous
of awards: Mr. Burell in private
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G.O.: Tell me a little about yourself, why did you
decide to go into the music business or was there a calling
(as some people say they get a calling)?
Shaggy: No it was not a calling, just being a kid and
listening to music, liking music and having a love for it.
I started spinning records for selectors and moved from there
to doing dubplates, because I couldn't afford to pay these
deejays the enormous amount of money so I did it by myself.
Then I started to DJ and get 'forward' and I said "Hey, I
like doing this" and continued doing it.
G.O.: At what age was that?
Shaggy: I can't tell you what age, but I can tell you
what year, 1987.
G.O.: That's a long time ago, when did people really
begin to know about Shaggy?
Shaggy: New York knew about Shaggy from '89, '88, but
my songs were never released in Jamaica, my songs were released
in New York, because I had no distributor. The first song
that got released in Jamaica for me was Oh Carolina and then
we had another song called Big Up which was even bigger than
Carolina, it was released in Miami and the Carribean, but
never Jamaica.
G.O.: Tell me why the name Shaggy?
Shaggy: Have you ever watched The Spy Who Shagged
Me?
G.O.: I don't think we need to go any further with
that one, who was the first producer to take you in the studio?
Shaggy: I did it myself, it was me and a friend of
mine which is Sting International.
G.O.: When did you actually decide to do it professionally?
Shaggy: Boombastic.
G.O.: That was a long time after you started.
Shaggy: Yeah, because I mean we had that song Oh
Carolina that went to No.1 on the Charts and Top-40 in
America, which was like a huge hit, a big phenomenon, what
was the chance of that happening twice and especially in Reggae.
So I actually got a lot of money from that and was signed
the biggest recording deal in the history of Reggae (at that
time), I just took the money and bought myself a house and
a nice car and said 'Hey', I mean that was it.
G.O.: What company was it that signed you?
Shaggy: Virgin, so I just took it as that and said
'Hey cool, whatever', if I don't get another one tomorrow,
if I don't get another hit, at least I know I got a nice house
and a nice car. So if I go to work in a shoe store at least
I got a car to go to work in and a house that's paid for and
I could move on from there. But as god willed it we had another
one, which was Summertime and it also went platinum.
G.O.: Were you ever a victim of what most Jamaican
artistes complain about, which is their managers robbing them?
Shaggy: Well I mean there is a simple rule called reading.
There are books out there that you can buy. Books that will
tell you everything you need to know about the music business,
which basically give you an outline of how business should
be done. There is one particular book called 'Everything you
want to know about the music business', it doesn't give you
everything exactly about the music business, because everything
is negotiable, from your royalty rate all the way down is
negotiable. But it gives you a standard outline of what an
artiste should receive, what a manager should receive, who
has the rights to what and publishing. If you want to know
about artiste management, there is also a book called 'Good
Artiste Management'. These are just simple books that you
can read and get an idea. Then when you go in and negotiate
and you have an attorney and you have the attorney explain
to you what you are in for, and more or less figure out if
this works with you or doesn't. That way you won't be able
to be robbed. A lot of kids out there they don't have a clue
and a lot of managers don't want them to have a clue, because
that way they keep the upper hand. There are things in business
which I would say, professionalism needs to be adapted by
artistes, which could only be taught to them by through the
experience of a manager.
G.O.: Did you have an idol in the music business when
you were growing, somebody that you just wanted to be like?
Shaggy: There were people that I admired in the business,
Bob Marley (everybody does), I am a big Gregory Isaacs fan.
Why I like Gregory is because his style is very unique and
the love songs he does, he does some of the most simple and
to the point love songs and to this day I think one of the
best. I got a Greatest Hits Gregory Isaacs that I listen to
and it is the best thing to make love to. I said it in a song,
in the song with Janet Jackson, Love me, love me. Toots
And The Maytals I dig a lot, as far as deejays, deejays just
kinda come and go.
G.O.: Some people have said that Reggae music is stagnant
or even go as far as to say dancehall is dying, that there
is no originality, all that is happening is the copying of
lyrics and styles of yester-years. Do you think that there
is any truth to that?
Shaggy: I do agree that it is not at its best right
now, to say it is stagnant, no, because I see things happening.
Lot of things happening locally, internationally it's not
a lot. It is difficult, a lot of things have changed, Hip-Hop
went through the same thing, a lot of people were doing old
songs in Hip-Hop. There have been new things when you look
at The Bug, it's daring basically what I did, Dave
Kelly and I are good friends. When I came with Oh Carolina
people were like what the hell is this, then came Boombastic
and there were no rhythms on the road that sounded like that,
it was simply very different. It was the same situation that
Dave did with The Bug, people were wondering what the
hell is this, it was not the regular boom, boom, boom dancehall
thing. The basic thing that I use to get by which most people
don't realise is talk, I deejay, but I do it in clear English.
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G.O.: That really sells, because if people
internationally cannot understand what you are saying, they
cannot buy your album.
Shaggy: Absolutely, look at all these latin artistes,
Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, what do they make it big with?
An English album, the world's first language is English, so
you cannot expect the world to embrace this Jamaican Patois.
Look what I do, I deejay in plain English with a Jamaican sound
and it works. The whole package has to be there you have to
be an artiste, charm people, know how to smile, be the performer,
have a sound (definitely has to be specific sound, when you
hear a Shaggy record you know it's me, ain't nobody else sound
like that).
G.O.: How did you describe your music? Dancehall with
influences of Pop and Hip-Hop?
Shaggy: No, I wouldn't say it is Hip-Hop, I can think
of times when I have used Jazz. It is just different.
G.O.: Are there special subjects that you like to talk
about in your songs?
Shaggy: Women, relationships and sex, that's it. I stay
away from political and religious issues, politics and religion
that's the only two things that people in the world fight over.
I stay away from those issues. Sit and think about the buying
market of records - young people. |
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G.O. Girl Nadine & Shaggy
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Old people don't buy records, old
people will listen, they will come to the concerts, listen and
say 'yeah', but to go out there and buy a record, they ain't
doing it, they listen to their radio before they do that. Kids
go out and buy, eight, nine year olds to 30 year old, I would
say that's the people who buy CDs. What are the main thing teenagers
wanna hear? Boyfriend and girlfriend. Who's man is sleeping
with who, who took whose woman, who took whose man and who's
slapping who, sells all the time. Check it out in the dancehall,
take a song like Look into my eyes and others like it,
those songs don't have much longevity. They are here for a while,
there is hype and then they're gone. A song like Action
will be forever, it's a party song, nice dance music, people
go to concerts to enjoy themselves and keep a smile on their
face. Why go there and preach all this negativity and all bad
things, go to CNN and get that.
G.O.: Would you say then that your music caters for a
certain audience?
Shaggy: I cater for everybody, people who are suffering
(in) the ghetto and are having a hard time, they wanna smile
too, they wanna say something happy, so I can't say I'm not
catering for them. I just sing uplifting songs, songs that make
them happy, even though they are having a hard time. We all
have a hard time, everybody has a hard time and I have a hard
time. I might not have financial problems, my career might flop
tomorrow, I got an enormous amout of pressure. I got relatives
up my ass that need help that I gotta look out for, I got 15
band members that look forward to their pay cheque, so I got
my fair share of problems. But I'd like not to sit here and
think about them 24 hrs. a day, that's why you got television.
When you're watching TV you're not really sitting there thinking
about your problems, you are watching TV to be entertained.
You go to a party, you're not gonna be dancing and thinking
'Oh yeah, I gotta pay my rent', that is the farthest thing from
your mind, you're thinking about getting drunk, probably getting
some pussy or something. In the case of a woman, probably getting
some guy and having fun now.
G.O.: Would you say that you prefer deejaying to singing?
Shaggy: They both have their time, whatever you're deejaying
or singing, a hit record is a hit record.
G.O.: Yeah, but it seems in most of your hit songs you
are deejaying.
Shaggy: I don't know what you would class Carolina as...
G.O.: True, Carolina is different.
Shaggy: It is a sing-ding, Boombastic was a deejay song,
That Girl was deejay and Maxi Priest was singing, so to
me it hits in both ways. I don't mind singing, I don't mind
deejaying. My whole thing is, a good song is a good song. Whether
it is written in a deejay or singing style, once it hits, people
enjoy it and I do it, that is all that counts.
G.O.: Do you ever think of doing a love song?
Shaggy: All my songs are love songs.
G.O.: But with a R&B feel, no deejaying, no Hip-Hop.
Shaggy: No, because that is not my style. It is like
Bob Marley, look at Bob Marley, he writes a lot of love songs.
Turn your lights down low, look at that song, that is a
love song and (I don't wanna) Wait In Vain (for your love),
but you can't ask Bob Marley to sing like Luther Vandross, that
is not Bob's style, and likewise you can't ask Luther Vandross
to sing (I don't wanna) Wait In Vain (for your love),
'cause he can't sing it like Bob. So there is a difference in
style. My style does not allow me to sing like Luther Vandross
or Lionel Richie, but I would sing it in my own style and the
point would get across. Guys would come to me and say Mr. Lover
Lover, it is a sexy song and it is a sexy type of song. Lyrics
like 'Oooh boy I love you so, oooh I'm the man to make you moist
and wet' that is some pussy song.
G.O.: It is, that is a serious song.
Shaggy: Yeah, so bottom line is that I do love songs,
but just not in the way that people might hear it from other
artistes. I gotta do what works for me, I can't do what doesn't
work.
G.O.: Where do you mainly live and work?
Shaggy: There are three places I live, Jamaica, New York
and London. Where do I work the most it's in Jamaica and New
York (I think it would be equal). Lot of songs I write here
in this apartment, because I'm always here by myself. It is
secluded and peaceful, nobody comes here, nobody knows where
I live, until now (you now know where it is).
G.O.: Which producer would you say you like working with
the most and why?
Shaggy: The producer who has always been responsible
for my success who did Oh Carolina, Boombastic, That
Girl, is Sting International. Robert Livingston is also
cool and he knows what Shaggy is all about. Dave Kelly originally
started out as a hired producer, but our friendship has grown
and he is now an inhouse producer. Lot of stuff I produced by
myself too, it just boils down to what sounds good.
G.O.: Do you play any instruments?
Shaggy: Oh, I do play...
G.O.: For instance -
Shaggy: CD, cassette.
G.O.: No guitar, no piano?
Shaggy: I could hold chords, if I wanted to.
G.O.: What five Jamaican songs just stand out, and in
your mind are classic and your favourites?
Shaggy: Five songs, when you talk about Jamaican songs
it's hard, because I think some of the greatest songs are out
of Jamaica. I think that one of the best songs that I have always
liked is a song done by Bob Andy, a song called Too Experienced,
I just thought that was a great song. There are so many songs,
Everything I Own by Ken Boothe, Marcia Griffiths' Electric
Slide was phenomenon and Jimmy Cliff...
G.O.: ...which one?
Shaggy: He has lots, it really hard to sit down and just
say five.
G.O.: What projects are you currently working on?
Shaggy: I'm completing my album or rather have completed
my album. I've just re-negotiated a deal and signed a new deal
with MCA Records. I have The Best Of Shaggy that is coming
out after the new album. Locally I'm not doing a lot, I don't
like to do a lot locally, I don't like to do shows locally.
That's because I don't have a lot of records out, but I think
they are doing quite well without me.
G.O.: Maybe you think the competition would be too much
for you?
Shaggy: I just think that I know where my strength lies,
my strength lies internationally. I know that artistes who are
successful locally would love to have the success that I have
internationally. That is where the career is.
G.O.: That is also where the money is made.
Shaggy: No doubt, so I have to be thankful.
G.O.: Any plans to tour Europe, possibly Germany soon?
Shaggy: Anytime I tour Europe I tour all of it and that
includes Germany too.
G.O.: Most people are hyped up and so into this Millenium
thing, any special planes that you have for then?
Shaggy: To be in bed.
G.O.: So the new year is gonna find you staying in?
Shaggy: I'll be right here by myself, if I have my way,
I'll have a sexy girl dancing on the table.
G.O.: Of all the artistes that you have worked with,
which one did you like working with the most and why?
Shaggy: Ravon, because our voices just blend.
G.O.: What do you think has been your best / most memorable
performance to date?
Shaggy: I'd say South Africa.
G.O.: What kind of crowd were you playing to?
Shaggy: About 30.000, could have been more.
G.O.: Your Style is unique, do you think that has helped
your career, whereas in Jamaica you find artistes sound like
other artistes and they still seem to get by?
Shaggy: It has helped. It is important to have a different
style, people have to know who you are, for me getting by is
not enough.
G.O.: People in the entertainment business (mainly acting
and music) have said that they cannot make money in Jamaica.
They have to go overseas to make money. Is that the same to
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Shaggy: I would tend to agree, although you can also
make it in Jamaica.
G.O.: Do you have a family?
Shaggy: Yes I do, I have two sons.
G.O.: I have never really heard any gossip about you,
how do you accomplish this, how are you able to escape that,
especially in Jamaica?
Shaggy: I am a very private person, I don't fool around
like most other artistes, because I think that my private
life is just that, private, I just love my privacy.
G.O.: Any advice for upcoming artistes?
Shaggy: Remain focused.
G.O.: Well Shaggy, on the behalf of the GERMAICAN OBSERVER
I would like to thank you for agreeing and doing this interview
and I wish you all the best on your upcoming album.
Shaggy: Thank you.
Audio:
Listen to Shaggy (Real Audio)
Nadine Reid, G.O. Crew, JA
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