Shaggy established himself as one of reggae music’s few household names from 1995’s Boombastic to his 1999 smash 44/876, but two songs in particular – It Wasn’t Me and Angel featuring Ricardo “RikRok” Ducent – cemented this international success at the close of Y2K.
Freaky Girl
One of Shaggy’s signature songs, this dancehall banger exudes sexual pleasure and desire. A massive hit in the US market with impressive sales and streaming figures. A remix starring City Girls JT, BIA, Akbar V and Maliibu Miitch (among others) was released later in 2022 to further publicise this track.
This chart-topper marks the first solo chart-topping single by a female artist in over five years and stands as testament to Nicki Minaj’s passionate, organized fanbase who were happy to support digital song sales, stream the TikTok version of her single, and support Queen Mix.
Minaj’s success comes despite her personal life being at the forefront of headlines more often than her music. She collaborated with convicted sex criminal Tekashi 6ix9ine and has begun an attempt to silence one of his former victims despite remaining an impressive presence within the music industry.
You Girl
Boombastic broke barriers with its thunderous beats in 1995, propelling Shaggy’s crossover brand of reggae (or dancehall1) music to the top of pop, rap, and R&B charts worldwide. Boasting tongue-in-cheek lyrics and hard-hitting rhythms that defined its success as an international hit single, Boombastic heralded a new era both for Shaggy himself as well as reggae music as a whole.
Shaggy has also established himself in film. The singer has appeared as himself in action-comedy flicks like Blast and Game Over Man! and American sitcoms such as The Hughleys.
Shaggy recently collaborated on 44/876 with 17-time Grammy winner Sting, debuting it at number one on the Billboard chart and becoming their highest charting collaboration ever. Their single Don’t Make Me Wait perfectly captures their unique chemistry as artists. Furthermore, Shaggy released Wah Gwaan?! in 2019, which featured modernized versions of some of his signature hits in addition to receiving a nomination for Best Reggae Album at this year’s Grammys.
Why You Treat Me So Bad
Robert Livingstone’s use of Bob Marley’s early work on Reggae songs featuring Mr Brown keyboard lines from Bob Marley is truly innovative, and what gives this track its irresistible feel. It recalls East Coast responses to P-Funk of the 70s which evolved into Boom Bap (think Pete Rock, J Dilla, Grand Puba etc). Shaggy and Puba deliver noncheloquent rhymes about how women often take advantage of men without regard for their feelings – an age old theme which still resonates.
Big Up
Big Up, written and performed by Shaggy with Rayvon, is a dancehall track that promotes body positivity and self-love. The song celebrates women of all sizes, shapes, and appearances; realizing that beauty is subjective. By using expressions such as “fat and buff,” expensive, rough etc…, Big Up encourages individuals to express themselves freely while also accepting differences within them and not fearfully adhering to rigid molds of beauty standards. Do you have any facts about Big Up that should be shared here? Please do! Don’t hesitate! Share them in the comments!
Genius is the ultimate source of knowledge created by individuals like you. Learn more about this track on Genius.
Oh Carolina
Shaggy music, or reggae as its more commonly known, has long been a source of global inspiration and delight for many artists, known for its positive messages. Dancing enthusiasts also favor its infectious beats; movie scenes featuring Shaggy songs often play at festivals or parties where its popularity thrives.
Orville Richard Burrell, better known by his stage name Shaggy, hails from Jamaica and began performing music professionally after moving to America in 1988. Joining the Marine Corps initially to avoid Brooklyn’s gun culture was forced upon him; soon after joining, however, he found himself serving in the Persian Gulf War achieving lance corporal status before quitting to pursue music as his passion.
His debut album was Pure Pleasure and included the hit single Oh Carolina from it – an adaption from Folkes Brothers’ Ska. This track became a worldwide success and enabled Shaggy to gain greater notoriety across Europe and beyond. Hot Shot, his fifth release released later that same year was his most successful record yet.
Boombastic
Boombastic remains one of the greatest dancehall songs of the 1990s, captivating audiences around the globe with its catchy beat and irresistible rhythm long after its release date. A testament to Shaggy and dancehall music’s development over time.
Shaggy’s song is an upbeat summertime treat that showcases his humor and playfulness. He boasts of his lovemaking abilities in an amusing yet flirtatious manner and even refers to himself as a certified lover – something which only amplifies its fun-loving tone! Shaggy delivers his verses effortlessly while his vocals feature “mmm” and “uh” sounds for added effect.
Remixes of this song include one featuring Sting (not that Sting!)/Shaggy that sample Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On, making an impressive turn around of dancehall into mainstream culture. Furthermore, Levi’s jeans used the song in their commercial featuring Shaggy as part of a claymation commercial for it as well! Upon its release it quickly rose in popularity worldwide while Shaggy became an international superstar as it introduced dancehall music into their marketing plan and culture as an entirely new genre to millions of listeners worldwide – turning dancehall into mainstream culture with it’s introduction along with dancehall’s introduction into mainstream culture!
Don’t Make Me Wait
Shaggy first emerged on the scene in the early ’90s as one of dancehall’s comic relief acts with his quirky sense of humor and nasal vocal delivery, yet soon proved himself one of its biggest crossover success stories.
Shaggy shows his more sensitive side in this song’s acoustic version, exploring themes like forgiveness and love. This track perfectly illustrates Shaggy’s remarkable talent for creating meaningful music regardless of genre.
This track’s blend of reggae and R&B brings to mind Sting’s hit with The Police, “So Lonely.” A gem from Shaggy’s Boombastic era, it centers around an unnamed protagonist pleading with their partner for more serious relationship commitment – though his lyrics might seem desperate at times, the lyrics are warmly emotive making this one of his finest ever tracks and featured on their Grammy winning 44/876 album in 2018.