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Quick Facts
Born
1968
1968
From
Jamaica
Jamaica
Journey
Orville Richard Burrell, known professionally as Shaggy, is a Jamaican reggae, dancehall, and reggae-fusion artist whose career has made him one of the most commercially successful musicians to emerge from Jamaica. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he later moved with his family to Brooklyn, New York, where he absorbed both Jamaican sound-system culture and American hip-hop influences. Before achieving musical fame, he served in the United States Marine Corps, an experience that he has said helped shape his discipline and work ethic.
Shaggy began recording in New York’s dancehall scene in the late 1980s and gained early attention with the single “Mampie.” His international breakthrough came with “Oh Carolina,” which introduced him to audiences across Europe and beyond. He reached a new level of global popularity with “Boombastic,” whose title track became a major hit and helped earn the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1996.
His worldwide success continued through the late 1990s and early 2000s with songs such as “In the Summertime,” “It Wasn’t Me,” and “Angel,” recordings that became defining crossover hits of the era. In 2002, he received the Brit Award for International Male Solo Artist, recognizing his substantial impact on global popular music markets.
Throughout his career, Shaggy has blended reggae and dancehall rhythms with pop, hip-hop, and contemporary production styles. He has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Sting, RikRok, Rayvon, Janet Jackson, Maxi Priest, Sean Paul, and others. His collaborative album “44/876” with Sting won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2019, giving him a second Grammy victory. Across his career, he has received eight Grammy Award nominations.
Shaggy’s catalog has been issued through major and independent labels, including FTD, Troyton Rami Music, and 2 Hard Records, and includes projects such as “Live It Up,” “Loud,” and the “DANGEROUS RIDDUM” collaboration. Between 2017 and 2024, he remained an active recording and touring artist, continuing to release new material and perform internationally.