Shaggy, the voice behind It Wasn’t Me and Boombastic, says he didn’t write his biggest songs, they were given to him by a higher power. The Jamaican-American artist, whose real name is Orville Burrell, shared in a recent interview that he honestly believes his music was “bestowed” upon him, not written by him.
“People say I wrote It Wasn’t Me and my other hits but I didn’t write any of them,” he told the Daily Star Sunday. “They were bestowed on me from a higher power. If it had come from me, I would write one every week.”
For Shaggy, these songs are more than just catchy tunes. He sees them as part of a larger purpose, to help others. “I honestly believe these songs were given to me to help change people’s lives. I’m just here to act as a service until I’m no longer needed,” he explained.
Shaggy’s music career spans more than 30 years, something that surprises even him, especially after people labeled him a one-hit wonder following the 1993 success of Oh Carolina.
“It has been quite a ride,” he said. “There’s not many artists who get to have success over three decades of music. I remember after Oh Carolina they called me the one-hit wonder. Then I did Boombastic and I was the two-hit wonder, and then Summertime and I was the three-hit wonder.”
Back then, few believed a dancehall artist could have lasting success on the mainstream stage. But Shaggy proved them wrong by consistently returning with hits.
He credits his staying power to knowing when to step back and when to return to the spotlight. He previously told E! News that taking breaks from music to do other things, like his role in The Little Mermaid Live! in 2019, kept him from overstaying his welcome.
“You go to your aunt’s house and she’s happy to see you. She’s making your bed, she’s cooking for you. You stay there for two weeks, [then] she’s like, ‘Alright, you’re cooking for yourself, you need to take out the garbage.’ You don’t want to overstay your welcome,” he said.
According to Shaggy, understanding the market and knowing when to pivot has been crucial to his career longevity. “Everything for me is strategic. The market is always changing. The game is always changing. You always look at where your audience is.”
Now at 56, Shaggy isn’t slowing down. Whether it’s theatre, music, or whatever comes next, he’s following what he sees as a divine plan, and continuing to bring those “bestowed” songs to life.
Mia Brooks dives deep into the beats and rhythms of the music industry, covering everything from chart-topping albums to underground artists. With a passion for discovering new talent and exploring the stories behind the songs, Mia keeps readers updated on all things music.
