Shaggy is one name that is recognized globally. It is a name that is associated with reggae, superstar status, multi-platinum records, a Grammy Award and humanitarian efforts.
And now for 2011, let’s add the catchy tourism bite “Summer in Kingston.” This is the title of Shaggy’s new album, which dropped on July 19. Everyone knows that summer in Kingston is hot. Really HOT! Well, we got a sample of what to expect when we got a taste of “Sugarcane,” the lead track on the album. And guess what? The up-tempo reggae-dancehall-pop tune is naturally sweet-just like sugarcane. Yet, it also has a fiery tang to it. Yeah, mon. With its wicked double entendre, the summer heat is on!
With its easy-to-remember hook, which is emphasized over and over again as it drives into your head, “Sugarcane” will definitely turn on the intended young, cross-over, international commercial market, and is predicted to be the summer song of 2011.
“Sugarcane” has been in the Top 10 on the iTunes reggae chart for weeks (along with Shaggy’s smash hits “It Wasn’t Me” and “Angel,” both of which are mainstays on the chart). Who knows? This song might even help to generate some new interest in revolutionizing the Caribbean sugarcane industry as an eco-friendly one that, for example, produces sugarcane waste paper products. Regardless with Shaggy’s “Sugarcane” available at all digital retailers for $2.99 for a limited time, it’s sure to be commercially viable product.
Other tracks on the “Summer in Kingston” CD include the reggae-dancehall-style track “Fired Up (F**k the Rece$ion)” and collaborations with reggae’s rising stars, including Agent Sasco (formerly Assassin) on “Feeling Alive” and Tarrus Riley on “Just Another Girl.” On “Soldier’s Story,” Shaggy shares his personal journey as a young marine in Iraq.
His unique experience is expressed through lyrics that convey a myriad of emotions, including terror, loss and loneliness as Shaggy vividly brings us into the personal world of war that he endured.
“Summer in Kingston” also includes the tracks “To the World,” a song dedicated to the Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world. Composed for the 2012 Olympics, “To the World” is a collaboration by Shaggy and fellow Jamaicans Maxi Priest and Christopher Martin that pays tribute to Bolt, the three-time Olympic gold medalist, for his commanding feats, which will bring him to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
“To the World” will also shine the spotlight on Jamaican tourism at the 2012 Jamaican Village, which will showcase Jamaican cuisine, culture and entertainment during the 10-day Olympic celebration.
Subsequent to quality time spent in his homeland of Jamaica, rejuvenating his popularity with his core reggae market, Shaggy will be back in the mainstream globally. An extensive public relations campaign has been planned with TV, radio and online appearances. Last Friday (July 15), he appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on NBC. Then, on July 26, he will perform on “Lopez Tonight,” which airs at midnight EST on TBS.
In an unprecedented promotion, Shaggy premiered the “Sugarcane” video on four screens to thousands of his fans in Knutsford Square in Kingston, Jamaica on July 16. In addition, he treated his countrymen and women to a dynamic performance, Kingston-style, as he was joined by Agent Sasco (formerly Assassin), Chino, Stephen McGregor and others.
Shaggy, who continues to reach millions of his fans with his captivating, high-energy live performances, will be appearing at a number of festivals worldwide. On July 31, he will be the headliner at the One Love Peace Festival at Wembly Arena in London, alongside fellow Jamaican artists Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul and Gyptian.
Shaggy, who has been on the music scene for over 20 years, has sold over 20 million albums. Amongst them, six No. 1 albums: “Boombastic,” “Midnite Lover,” “Hotshot,” “Lucky Day,” “Clothes Drop,” “Intoxication” and “Boombastic Collection.” Add to the mix six No. 1 singles: “Boombastic,” “In the Summertime,” “Angel,” “It Wasn’t Me,” “Church Heathen” and “Bonafide Girl.”
“It Wasn’t Me” and “Angel” still hold the No. 3 and 4 spots on the iTunes Reggae song chart. Those two hits, plus “Sugarcane” and “Luv Me, Luv Me,” are currently on the Reggae Top 25 chart. “Boombastic” earned Shaggy a Grammy along with three additional nominations, as well as approval from AMA and Juno.
Renowned for his humanitarian efforts in his beloved Jamaica, Shaggy has been lending his support to Kingston’s Bustamante Hospital for the past 10 years through donations, gifts for children and fundraising efforts for medical equipment. Since the inception of the Make A Difference Foundation in 2008, Shaggy has brought attention to sick children and their medical needs.
His annual Shaggy & Friends concerts has raised over $1 million for the hospital, featuring such artists as Sean Paul, Boys II Men, Macy Gray and other international celebrity artists. This year’s event will take place during the holiday season on Dec. 29 in Kingston, Jamaica.
For music and information, please visit www.shaggyonline.com.
Caribbean Lingo pays tribute to Caribbean Diaspora artists and art forms of the highest caliber. To contact us, please email icadRSVP@aol.com.
