Shaggy talks new 'Hot Shot 2020' album: 'I make songs to put smiles on people's faces'
Shaggy is reinventing some of his most famous dance hits in his new album, "Hot Shot 2020," out Friday.
The iconic reggae artist, known for chart-topping tracks like "It Wasn't Me" and "Angel," is releasing the new project to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his diamond-selling album, "Hot Shot," which he describes as "a monumental album in dancehall."
"It was really the album that really brought dancehall to the mainstream and brought numbers to the game," Shaggy said in an interview with "Good Morning America." "It also was the album that opened the door for the likes of Sean Paul and many of the artists to come afterwards in dancehall, and this is a celebration of the journey."
Shaggy's fans will find familiar songs like "Keepin' It Real," "Luv Me Luv Me," "Boombastic" and "Oh Carolina" on "Hot Shot 2020" -- but with a twist.
"I still wanted to keep the authenticity of the original recordings because they were still recurring on radio, but I also wanted to give that new sonic feeling that's happening now," Shaggy said about remixing his famous tunes. "I incorporated trap, I incorporated a little bit of reggaeton, I incorporated these new sounds and feels that's happening right now and just kind of give it the mix ... the more digital type of mix that really works with these kids walking around with AirPods these days."
He said that when he put the album together, he felt it was "a celebration of the journey, not just the past ... the present, but also the future of what Shaggy is."
Given the album's release during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jamaican artist hopes his fans can use it as a peaceful outlet.
"This album is an album of joy, of smiles, of sunshine, and especially in these COVID times, you listen to this and feel like hey, I want to escape onto some other island somewhere and hopefully you'll feel like you want to be in an island -- and maybe after COVID you can visit the island," he said with a laugh.
"I make songs to put smiles on people's faces, I make songs to make people be happy. That is my purpose," he said. "I think that every fan that I touch, I mean, if I could make their life a little bit different or a little better day-to-day with this music, whether they're singing to it, dancing to it, using it to get their mind off whatever anxiety is hitting them, I've done my job."
Shaggy's close friend and frequent collaborator Sting is featured on "Hot Shot 2020" in the singer's new version of "Angel," a track he released in 2000 with fellow musician Rayvon.
Shaggy and Sting teamed up for the 2018 album "44/876," which won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2019.
"The biggest thing I took from '44/876' was not just winning a Grammy and having a very successful tour and selling platinum with this album; it was really, I gained a brother I didn't know I needed, and I gained a mentor I didn't know I needed," Shaggy said regarding his tight bond with the English musician.
"I learned so much from him and he motivates me and has done a lot for my confidence," he added.
Shaggy said the "Shape of My Heart" singer has been "very instrumental" in the making of "Hot Shot 2020," and that he often looks to Sting for inspiration.
"Last night he called me and was jamming through the whole album, him and Trudie, they're in Italy and he's playing it in the courtyard with a couple of friends, really just rocking to it, so I was really, really pleased about that," Shaggy said.
Another track that might seem familiar on "Hot Shot 2020"? A new remix of Shaggy's wildly successful hit "Banana," which he released in 2019 with artist Conkarah. The song has been streamed more than 250 million times worldwide and more than 26.7 million TikTok videos have been made for the #bananadrop challenge, which features the track.
"When I watch everybody doing these videos, everybody is smiling," Shaggy said. "Everybody's really in good moods, and it's a family fun type of thing. We kind of need that now in these COVID times."
He said that he hasn't seen any of his other records "move as fast" as that song and is so thankful Conkarah came to him with such a great idea for the song. Conkarah is one of the many up-and-coming artists that Shaggy has collaborated with throughout his career.
"'In The Summertime' was done by an unknown artist by the name of Rayvon. 'Angel' was done by Rayvon again also. 'It Wasn't Me,' an unknown artist by the name of Rikrok," Shaggy said, naming some of his previous collaborators.
"'I Need Your Love' recently with Mohombi and Faydee were also unknown," he added. "I'm really open to working with new and young, talented, gifted artists and I'm always open to new ideas."
Shaggy also supports the growing musical career of his son, rapper Robb Banks.
"He's always had the bug from day one. He's been around music and he's been around musicians his whole life," he shared. "I'm always here to support him. He's also a man of his own music though; he has own ideas and does his own thing. I'm just very, very proud of him."
The one piece of advice Shaggy gave to his son?
"I said you could have 90% talent and 10% work ethic and nobody knows you. And you could have 90% work ethic and 10% talent and be the biggest star in the world," Shaggy shared. "You really have to work hard at your craft, and I encouraged him to work at his craft."
