Shaggy has defended his Jamaican authenticity, saying he is as authentically Jamaican as anyone despite criticism over his unique approach to music and his speaking voice.
The reggae icon, born Orville Richard Burrell in Kingston, Jamaica, met with Metro at London's Langham hotel. He joked about the heat, saying, 'You guys aren't equipped to deal with this heat. It's too hot.'
Two Different Voices
Shaggy explained that his spoken voice differs from his patois-inflected singing voice on hits like Mr. Boombastic due to his time imitating German drill instructors during military training. 'It's down to military marching cadences. I used to come out and sing imitating the German drill instructors. It just stayed like that. I have two completely different voices, but it works,' he said.
He acknowledged criticism for not sounding authentically Jamaican. 'I get criticised for it a lot, even when I do music I don’t do it in the same way my peers would. Criticised for not being as authentically Jamaican. Half of the people who judge me have never been to Jamaica. I live in Kingston, I was born in Jamaica, I was raised in Jamaica. So, I don’t think there’s anyone more authentic than me. I just move a little differently.'
Career Success and Famous Fans
The 57-year-old, awarded the Jamaican Order of Distinction with the rank of Commander in 2007, said he took a different approach to music to avoid discrimination. 'I took a different approach when I was doing music, I didn’t dress in red, green, and gold, I don’t smoke weed, I don’t have dreadlocks, I don’t speak in my native dialect all the time. I wouldn’t have got on certain platforms otherwise. I would have been discriminated against. It used to be that people would automatically look down on you because you have an accent. But the way I’ve approached it has served me well.'
His approach has earned him two Grammys, two Billboard Music Awards, and an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Brown University. He recalled Michael Jackson praising his song It Wasn't Me: 'Michael Jackson told me he loved It Wasn't Me and asked me if I wrote the lyrics. I said yes and he replied: “It sounds like something I would write!”'
He also met Prince Harry, who said he was a fan. Shaggy noted his daughter was disappointed that Harry wasn't on a horse like a real prince.
Collaborations and New Projects
Shaggy revealed why he declined an opportunity to work with Rihanna. 'They asked me to make some songs and see what she would like, but I wanted the experience of being in the studio with Ri. I’ve known her from when she just started, I’ve seen her growth. She’s iconic, but if I’m going to create with her, let’s do it together. Sending records in feels like you’re auditioning. So, I just didn’t feel like doing that.'
He is working with Sting this year, set to appear in The Last Ship, an original musical by the Police star. 'I’m looking forward to sitting down and having cocktails with my brother. He’s the guy that pushes me to do things that I’m uncomfortable with doing. He helps me to find comfort outside of my comfort zone. We have a friendship that we never thought that we would have. We go out of our way to connect.'
Shaggy's new album, Lottery, is out now. He appears in Sting's The Last Ship at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 22 and 23 September.
