Shaggy

Shaggy, born Orville Richard Burrell in Kingston, Jamaica, is a Grammy Award-winning reggae and dancehall artist whose distinctive voice, infectious rhythms and genre-blending style have made him one of the most successful Jamaican musicians to cross over into mainstream pop.

Shaggy moved to Brooklyn, New York, at 18 and began establishing himself on the city’s reggae and dancehall scene. His musical career took an unexpected detour when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1988. While stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, he continued recording and performing in New York when his military schedule allowed. He served in the Middle East during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm before leaving the Marines in 1992.

His breakthrough came with the 1993 hit “Oh Carolina,” followed by “Boombastic,” which became his signature song and earned him his first Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. His 2000 album Hot Shot propelled him to international superstardom, producing the No. 1 hits “It Wasn’t Me” and “Angel” and eventually earning six-times-platinum certification in the United States.

Known for his ability to blend reggae, dancehall, hip-hop and pop, Shaggy has collaborated with artists ranging from Sting and Janet Jackson to RikRok and many others. His partnership with Sting produced the 2018 album 44/876, which won the 2019 Grammy for Best Reggae Album. In total, Shaggy has received eight Grammy nominations and won two.

Beyond music, Shaggy has remained closely connected to Jamaica and to the U.S. military community. He was awarded Jamaica’s Order of Distinction in 2007 and received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Brown University in 2022. He has also used his platform for charitable and humanitarian work, including efforts supporting Jamaica and military families.