Shaggy Brings His Legendary Vibes to Art Basel

 Editor's Note: This page contains sponsored content.

Art Basel in Miami, FL, has become an annual destination for art enthusiasts, collectors, trend-setting socialites, and celebrities alike, turning the Magic City into the country’s largest art exposition. A three-hour flight away from the wintry frost-plunging temperatures across the tri-state area, on Dec. 3, Okayplayer and VP Records hosted an exclusive VIP experience that brought together artists, tastemakers, and cultural influencers for a night of music, networking, and celebration of dancehall legend Shaggy’s single “Boom Body,” with Akon and Aidonia.

For the leadoff from his upcoming 18th studio album, guests were treated to an immersive experience with island-inspired textures and installations, real-time painting exhibitions, energetic DJ sets from Shane Hoosong and Major Lazer’s Walshy Fire, and a special appearance from longtime Shaggy collaborator Rayvon. But the night belonged to one of the biggest-selling dancehall and reggae artists of all time, as he treated the packed house to a performance of classic tracks, songs from his forthcoming album, and more.

Sitting down with Okayplayer, Shaggy spoke on his 30-year career, some of the challenges he has faced throughout his musical journey, and the lessons he hopes to impart upon those who wish to follow in his footsteps.

Okayplayer: Is there a song the world fell in love with that you didn’t expect them to?

Shaggy: No one can prepare what the magnitude of ‘It Wasn’t Me,’ or ‘Angel’ or a ‘Boombastic’ is. That is the real surprise. Finding a record that is special is not the surprise. I got songs where I'm like, ‘OK, this is special.’ You can tell when you got a special record.

What was challenging about finding your footing in Jamaica’s music scene as a New York–raised artist?

I was a young yute in Brooklyn. Brooklyn’s a melting pot, Flatbush. We had a whole crew: me, Red Fox, Rayvon, Screechy Dan. We were all just a team of people, young yute, that just loved the music. And we went from sound system to sound system, from just different places and just did it. And we ended up getting the hits. It was all organic. It was like, ‘Yo, let's go look for a record company person, or let's go get our demo tapes here.’ We were just kids, just having fun spitting lyrics on mics, on different sound systems. And we made a name for ourselves.

What’s the biggest takeaway you hope people get from your career—both what you’ve done and what you’re doing now?

I think right now, the main thing that I see why artists don't go all the way is laziness. You got to make up your mind to work, and I think in this generation it's even lazier because they pick their phone up and they think that's promotion. They don't know that you got to get up and go get this thing. This music, nobody's giving you nothing, so you got to go in for it.