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Shaggy is the ultimate performer. He was surprised when I told him how many of his shows I have taken in on the road. From Rochester to Kentucky, Massachusetts to Ohio. I-ve been there; looking from a distance. A lot of people bun out Shaggy and seh im switch, but this is the same Shaggy I hear on stage telling his fans to remember to support Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Tanya Stephens and other Reggae artists. He always emphasizes to his audience that he is not the only Reggae artist on the planet. He has introduced many to reggae and dancehall and I have the proof.
I have always been one of Shaggy-s harshest critics, but I have always been proud of him and what he stands for. I am a supporter and someone who has watched Shaggy grow in this business. He does not always get credit for all he has done for Dancehall/Reggae and Jamaica... yes Jamaica...[I know first hand his charity work]...but through all of the criticism he has maintained his sense of humor and persevered.
Shaggy called me from Jamaica yesterday morning bright and early. No matter where on earth this man is...Christmas always finds him right inna im yaad. After chit chatting and laughing with the man with the animated personality for a few minutes we got down to business.
Interview conducted by: Shilo Evans
Peppa Pot: What-s your current label situation?
Shaggy: Everything is fine now. Now I-m fine. If you asked me that a couple months ago, I would have told you something different. I went through stress with the record company Geffen. Where I wanted to go, they didn-t want me to go there.
Peppa Pot: So you feel liberated now? Does this give you the freedom to do undiluted dancehall?
Shaggy: Dancehall is what I want to do. They didn-t want me to do it. That-s what mi fight fa. Chaka Demus, Pliers, Shabba, we all worked to get dancehall to mainstream. Mainstream embrace dancehall right now.
Peppa Pot: How did "Church Heathen" come about?
Shaggy: I am with no label right now. The end of October was it with Geffen. In Novenber, Tony Kelly, Sting, Birch, and me decided it was time to reinvent myself. In dancehall there are three topics to sing about. Gun, Gal, and Dancing. I couldn-t do a gun tune, cause that-s not me. I didn-t want to do a gal tune, cause that-s expected of me. Couldn-t do no dance tune cause dance tunes are short-lived. Yu ever see a dance tune a climb the Billboard charts? I needed a unique angle.
The video was shot by Jay Will at the Caymanas Golf Club in Jamaica. As soon as we thought about the video, mi start think bout the confession booth with Ninja Man as the pastor, and Danny Champayne as the deacon. Is Jay Will come up with Ninja inna the booth with the weed in his hand.
Peppa Pot: Speaking of Church Heathen ..... when-s the last time you went to church.?
Shaggy: I went to a friend-s wedding recently. I am not religious, but I am very spiritual. I pray regularly.
Peppa Pot: Is there a feud with between you and Red Fox?
Shaggy: People always thought there was a war between me and Fox. Of course we-ve had our differences that we found out stem from bad-mind people. Fox realize now that we have a bond. Screechy who has always remained neutral put the bond back together. We are recording again. Rik Rok, Screechy, Red Fox, Shelly Thunder.
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| Shaggy | Peppa Pot: On the subject of feuds .... is there an issue between you and Sean Paul?
Shaggy: I hear all the gossip about me and Sean Paul not getting along. I thank GOD for Sean Paul. I have to thank GOD for Sean keeping the light shining bright on dancehall. I have nothing bad to say about Sean Paul. A jus yesterday me, Sean and [Baby] Cham deh a Children-s Hospital a hand out gifts to the children. We each took a ward. Me and Sean talk on a regular.
Peppa Pot: What-s up with the Ruff Entry Crew?
Shaggy: Screechy Dan is the wickedest lyricist in dancehall. Screechy is now back in the dancehall frame of mind. We-ve been bonding in Long Island at my home. Me, Screechy and Red Fox. We are forming the original Ruff Entry Crew again. Screechy and Fox have been recording again, and we have some singles working on right now.
Peppa Pot: Some people say you shouldn-t be classified as a dancehall artist....
Shaggy: I come from dancehall. Mampi, All Virgins, Big Up. Straight dancehall. Of course sometimes to get across you have to remix. Sometimes the music gets diluted. But mi can-t just keep it straight dancehall and die. People love run off dem mouth, but I have to do what I have to do to bring it across.
Peppa Pot: On the "light skin" issue [Sean, Shaggy and Cham]. Does it help?
Shaggy: I won-t say that physical attributes don-t help. We are poster boys. It-s an asset. Marketing love it. Gal put wi pon dem wall. However, without talent and skill, it doesn-t matter. Shabba, Chaka Demus and Pliers made it. It-s the talent that counts.
Peppa Pot: What-s your take on gay bashing lyrics?
Shaggy: If you in a mine field and someone steps somewhere and blow up, why are you going to go step on the same spot? Leave the ba**yman ting alone. After a nuh your bed dem a lie inna. There are way more important things to put energy in that ba**yman lyrics. Stop fan the fire.
Peppa Pot: What you think of the Beenie & Bounty-s rivalry?
Shaggy: Beenie Man and Bounty Killer is dem worst enemy. I was at Sting. Mi nah lie, mi did want the clash. I wasn-t going to go to Sting, but I went and while there you want the hype, you want the clash. VERBAL clash, Lyrical war. Mi did even want Ninja Man inna it to. Money can be made from it if done the right way. Lyrical clash on stage and keep it about the music. The artist dem fi leggo the bad man dem from -roun them to. Money can be made from a lyrical clash. No war tings. People will pay to see artist throwing lyrics at each other. When Spice get box down, that went too far. Check out Yo Mama on MTV. Some a dem joke deh hot. But they keep it verbal and shake hands when dem done. Money can be made. Leggo the violence.
Peppa Pot: What-s your greatest accomplishment?
Shaggy: In the early stages winning the Grammy was it. Now, it lose it meaning. Mi use it cotch mi door. Ten million-diamond...to date, that is my greatest accomplishment.
Peppa Pot: What-s the strangest thing a fan ever did.
Shaggy: This might sound really lewd...but a girl took a photo of herself, sitting on my face on one of my posters. That-s some sick s**t.
Peppa Pot: Tell us something about you that we don-t know.
Shaggy: My loyalty. I am very loyal. Mi nuh like new fren. The most honest people are your old friends. Rossi from way back. Fox mek mi know Sting. Kue is a man from the heart. Robert Livingston and Rayvon, mi can count on them. Me and Cham have a bond...Tony Kelly and me go way back from Boombastic days. Same team.
Peppa Pot: In the Gulf War trenches...did you dream this big?
-I never thought it would happen. I never dreamed I-d be an artist. LP and Gibraltar Sounds.
We used to just dj and clash, not expecting anything. 10 million sold. No one ever expected a New York artist to do that.-
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| Shaggy | Peppa Pot: What do you think of the 07 Grammy Nominations?
Shaggy: I didn-t like it. I don-t mind Matisyahu getting the nomination. If you do Reggae you should get nominated. I just think Tanya [Stephens] should have gotten nominated also.
Peppa Pot: You should write a book Shaggy.
Shaggy: I already have a book deal lined up. And mi have nuff tings fi chat...and I will!!! Mi have it all now. Mi own everything. All mi publishing, everything. No man nuh have my ting. Book soon come. Everything in time.
Peppa Pot: Words from James Brown. [RIP]
Shaggy: I feel as if I should be in Atlanta for James Brown-s funeral. We toured Europe a few years ago with Cyndi Lauper and it was a great experience.
One night I was in my dressing room and mi door fly open. It was James Brown and his body guard standing there. He said to me, "Yow, I need to talk to you. Let me tell you something. I see you move every night...you the truth. You need to show them both sides. You are personable. You not stuck up.You very animated. Keep up the good work. You the truth." Then they turned and left.
Peppa Pot: Favorite Overall Reggae Artist.
Shaggy: Bob Marley.
Peppa Pot: Favorite Reggae Artist.
Shaggy: Chuck Fender.
Peppa Pot: Favorite Female Artist
Shaggy: Lady Saw stands out.
Peppa Pot: R&B Favorite Right Now
Shaggy: Neyo.
Peppa Pot: Favorite DJ
Shaggy: Assassin.
Peppa Pot: Favorite DJ Overall.
Shaggy: Shabba Ranks.
Peppa Pot: Hobby
Shaggy: Music is my hobby. Stone Ginger Wine while listening to music.
Peppa Pot: Favorite Food
Shaggy: Oxtail and rice and peas.
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