Reggae hitmaker Shaggy had hundreds of New Yorkers dancing into the night at the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in Central Park on July 9. The Jamaican-born NYC transplant who brought the world hits like “Mr. Boombastic” and “It Wasn’t Me” was joined by special guests that included Robin Thicke, Tanto Metro & Devonte, and more for an evening that celebrated the city’s diverse culture and strong sense of community.
“Anybody here from Guyana?” an announcer asked the audience before Shaggy took to the stage. “From Trinidad? From the Dominican Republic? From Panama?” The audience cheered. “All my Africans make some noise!” It was a hot day, but the community was out in full force — packing out a little slice of Central Park that has hosted a diverse array of some of the world’s finest artists for four decades.
The event, titled Shaggy’s Yaad, was presented in partnership with Shaggy’s Boombastic Radio, a show on SiriusXM, and VP Records, a Queens-based record label specializing in reggae and soca and the largest independent label of its kind. The label is still run by co-founder Patricia Chin and has a storefront in Jamaica, Queens. Shaggy’s latest output, “Lookin’ Lovely,” which features singer Robin Thicke, was released on July 10 by VP Records. The pair performed the song, as well as Thicke’s controversial hit, “Blurred Lines,” at the park on Saturday among a myriad of Shaggy’s hits, including “Angel,” and his rendition of “In the Summertime.” “This is New York City, we represent the culture,” he told the audience. The audience responded throughout the night in cheers and dance, united by rhythm and sound.
The event is part of a diverse season of programming that celebrates SummerStage’s 40th anniversary series, which has provided New Yorkers access to free artistic resources, including their host of concerts across multiple boroughs, since 1986. Forthcoming highlights include a free performance by soul queen Mavis Staples at Central Park on June 16 and a performance by hip hop progenitors De La Soul at Corona Park on July 17. To coincide with this special anniversary series, a photo exhibit, “40 in Focus: SummerStage through the Lens of Photographer Jack Vartoogian,” is on display through August 21 at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park. The exhibit displays iconic images from the series’ past, including performances by Sun Ra, and backstage shots of artists like Buddy Guy. You can learn more about all the exciting programming cooking at SummerStage by visiting cityparksfoundation.org.erStage by visiting cityparksfoundation.org.
