SHAGGY WEIGHS IN ON “KING OF DANCEHALL” DEBATE: “THERE’S NO ONE KING FOR A GENRE”
Jamaican superstar Shaggy has shared his perspective on the long-running debate over who deserves to be called the “King of Dancehall,” arguing that the genre’s history is too broad to crown only one artist.
During an interview with DJ Mr. Famous, Shaggy pointed to several dancehall stars who dominated different eras and made major contributions to the genre. He also discussed his own international success and named Sean Paul and Bob Marley while talking about his global reach and streaming position.
Shaggy rejected the idea that dancehall should have only one king, saying: “There’s no one king for a genre.”
He specifically named Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel and Shabba Ranks as kings, while also including himself and pointing to artists who achieved major success during their respective eras.
Shaggy also highlighted Ninjaman and Bounty Killer while discussing how influential some dancehall stars were during their peak years. He argued that younger audiences should not overlook achievements simply because they happened before the social-media era.
When discussing his own numbers and international reach, Shaggy said Sean Paul was the main artist currently above him and also referenced reggae legend Bob Marley, saying he and Marley “go back and forth.”
He said that in many parts of the world, Bob Marley, Sean Paul and Shaggy are among the Jamaican names international audiences immediately recognize.
Shaggy also argued that social media does not tell the complete story of Jamaican music’s global impact. He recalled touring and performing in African countries including Uganda, Kenya, Botswana and South Africa before Instagram existed.
MORE FROM THE INTERVIEW
The conversation went well beyond the “King of Dancehall” debate.
Shaggy discussed his Lottery project, collaborations with artists including Rick Ross, Skillibeng, Beres Hammond and Dexta Daps, his friendship and work with Sting, and his efforts to support other Jamaican artists.
He also spoke about helping Spice with her previous record deal and said he produced music for her, helped renegotiate her arrangement and assisted with getting her publishing returned to her. These statements were made by Shaggy during the interview.
THE BIG QUESTION
Shaggy’s position is clear: dancehall’s history includes multiple artists who became dominant and influential during different periods, rather than one undisputed king for the entire genre.
Do you agree with Shaggy that dancehall can have multiple kings, or do you believe there should be only one “King of Dancehall”?
