Shaggy

About Shaggy

Jamaican dancehall icon Shaggy has been producing deep, groove hits for over twenty years now. With his affable voice and sense of humor, Shaggy tracks are instantly recognizable. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Orville Richard Burrell took his nickname from Scooby Doo's gawky, stoner comrade. Shaggy emigrated with his family and relocated in Flatbush, Brooklyn. He joined the marines and saw active duty in Iraq as part of Operation Desert Storm. After he got back, Shaggy decided to focus on his first love-Jamaica's native dancehall sound. He had his first hit in 1993 with am up-tempo cover of The Folkes Brothers' ska classic "Oh Caroline." Shaggy had a huge hit in 1995 with "Bombastic," an energetic dance jam. Throughout the 90's, Shaggy crossed genres by frequently collaborating with hip hop stars including Grand Puba, Kenny Dope and Maxi Priest. He even dueted with Janet Jackson on 1998's island-flavored ballad "Luv Me, Luv You." But most of his hits were restricted to the reggae/dancehall scene until 2000, when he released his chart topping "It Wasn't Me." The catchy track featured a cheating Shaggy trying to set things right with his main girl, and it made it to #1 in the US and the UK. He followed it up with the tender "Angel," a hip hop-based reworking Chip Taylor's classic "Angel Of the Morning" (it also sampled the bass line from Steve Miller's hit "The Joker.') Shaggy has always been more successful in the UK than he has at home, and in 2002 he collaborated with English prankster comedian Ali G on a novelty song, "Me Julie."