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Shaggy: The Measure Of A Man
BY TYRONE S REID Observer staff writer reidt@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, January 04, 2009
The megastar sits down with us to discuss everything from his latest charity endeavours and life lessons learnt to his decision to boycott the 2009 Grammys and the future of his career in the music biz.
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| STAGE STAR: Shaggy performs for his fans at one of his sold-out concerts. |
THE storied grounds of the Big Yard offices and recording studio in Kingston is bustling as usual on a sunny Tuesday afternoon. The parking lot is flooded with expensive-looking automobiles and the yard is abuzz with artistes. It seems everyone is here: from Tarrus Riley and Assassin to Voicemail and D Major. On my arrival earlier, I saw Marcia Griffiths disappear inside the large building.
Grammy winner Orville 'Shaggy' Burrell, the real star of the show, is here too, and has somehow persuaded his manager to close off the rehearsal studio, simply so we will be audible and uninterrupted during our interview. Between cracking jokes and regularly checking his Blackberry, the conversation caroms every which way, and there's a lot to discuss and catch up on.
There is his highly-publicised charity concert (held yesterday at Jamaica House) to benefit the Bustamante Hospital for Children, his new music and next album. Not to mention his 2009 Grammy nomination for his latest release, Intoxication. Now and again, someone enters meekly to drop something off for the big event the next day. But for the most part, it's just the two of us, occasionally peering around the room, taking in
the sheer ghostliness of music equipment, a small
stage and pieces of furniture, each unattended.
It doesn't take much to see that Shaggy has a heart of gold. His successful music career aside, the artiste has earned renown for his philanthropic efforts which primarily benefits young Jamaicans. He wastes no time in crediting his late grandmother, Sylvia Sherman, with nurturing his sensitivity and love for mankind as a boy growing up.
"That love you grow with as a youth coming up never goes away. It's that kind of unconditional love I got from my mother and my grandmother," Shaggy says. "I never knew I was poor growing up because of that love we had in our family. Money was never really an issue. And when I look back, I realise that I can't miss something I never had."
Hardly surprising then that at a time when most artistes would choose to rest on their laurels (or try to rejuvenate their fading stardom), Shaggy is hard at work raising much-needed funds to save the lives of dying children.
"It takes one person to start a miracle. And when I saw the level of need [at the Bustamante hospital], it was something that played on my emotions," he reveals. "I never saw [charity work] like this at the forefront of my future. But I am glad it is all happening because everything is a learning activity and I am becoming a better human in the process."
Plans for the 'Shaggy and Friends' concert were totally "last-minute", Shaggy admits, but the man's charisma runs deep, and in no time he had superstars like Macy Gray, Sean Paul, Freddie McGregor, Tyson Beckford and Allison Hinds, all pledging their support and attendance.
"There's a certain amount of gratitude you feel when things turn out well in life. And this is just one of those times. You are raised a certain way, with certain morals, and as you go through life it is your duty to exercise those morals, especially when you look back and see that life has been good to you."
Indeed. And if recent history is any indication, life has been good to Shaggy. In a music world often criticised for its dearth of opportunities for Caribbean artistes, Shaggy has climbed his way to the top - and he's still climbing. He has a diamond-selling CD to his credit, a Grammy in his trophy case and legions of loyal fans, who can't get enough of Mr Bombastic.
Last December, Shaggy received some unexpected news: his latest disc, Intoxication, had received a nod for Best Reggae Album for the upcoming Grammy Awards. He's grateful, but he hopes another home-grown son takes the award come February 8.
"I'm hoping Elephant Man wins. He's very excited about the nomination, and a win will mean more to him than to me," says Shaggy, who doesn't plan to attend the lavish ceremony in Los Angeles. "[The Grammy affair] doesn't hold that much significance to me anymore because I have seen it not being given to the right people at the right moment. It has lost its meaning for me, but it is still music's highest honour and you have to respect that," he adds, with a hint of finality in his voice.
When it comes to recording new music to satisfy his listeners, Shaggy is always up to the task. His recently released single, Bad Man Don't Cry (with its irresistible throwback vibe) and accompanying music video are doing good business on local charts and playlists. He hopes to put another album together in the coming months. But he's in no hurry.
"I have already recorded some tracks but then I became consumed with all the plans for the charity concert so I put everything on hold for a while. Hopefully, after the third [of January], I can focus on recording the album. But there are no definite plans for an early release," explains Shaggy, who travels regularly between Jamaica, New York and Miami, where he owns real estate.
In so many ways, Shaggy, the artiste and playboy we seem to know so well, seems poised to surprise even himself in the New Year. According to the man who blew out 40 candles in October, 2009 will be fine, even if it's loaded with work.
"I have a tour of Australia starting on the 21st and then some concerts in Cayman. But for this year I basically plan to go into the studio to get some music done. I might enter an album deal negotiation later in the year, but we'll just have to wait and see what happens."
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