Multiple Grammy Award-winning global reggae, dancehall, and pop music icon Shaggy is returning with a new holiday album, Christmas in the Islands, available worldwide on November 13 via BMG.
This quintessential reggae Christmas themed collection puts a Caribbean twist on traditional Christmas cheer with 15-tracks of island-infused holiday songs, featuring guest performances from Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Junior Reid, Ne-Yo, Romain Virgo, Ritchie Stephens, Conkarah, Joss Stone andamp; others. The album includes new, original music, as well as a modern reggae cover of the classic ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ among other holiday favorites.
Shaggy says, “Since I was a child, I can remember seeing tourists flock to Jamaica during Christmastime for some sun, fun, rum, and great parties! Our island is all about family, friends, food, great beaches, warm, welcoming people, and a strong culture, which is the perfect recipe for a joyous Christmas, so we decided to embody all of that into one album.”
He continues, “we enlisted some of Jamaica’s leading, iconic artists to participate, and with guests like Ne-Yo and Joss Stone, who frequent Jamaica during the holiday season, we hope to transport listeners and share how we celebrate Christmas in the Islands!”
As the only diamond-selling dancehall/reggae artist in music history, Shaggy has sold more than 40 million albums to date and has amassed over 1.5 billion streams worldwide throughout his illustrious career. He has been nominated for seven Grammy Awards, winning twice for Best Reggae Album with Boombastic (1996) and most recently, 44/876with music icon, Sting (2019). He has also landed eight singles on the Billboard Hot 100 - including the diamond hit single ‘It Wasn’t Me’, Platinum hits “Boombastic’ and ‘Angel’ - as well as seven albums on the Billboard 200 (including four in the Top 40).
While his musical accomplishments speak for themselves, a couple of lesser-known facts are his altruistic endeavors (he established the Shaggy andamp; Friends Foundation which benefits the Bustamante Children’s Hospital in Kingston; the only English speaking children’s hospital in all of the Caribbean) and that he served in the US Marines for four years (including two tours of duty in the Middle East as part of Operation Desert Storm).
CHRISTMAS IN THE ISLANDS TRACK LISTING:
1) No Icy Christmas (ft. Sanchez)
2) We Got Us (ft. Shenseea and OMI)
3) Take You to the Cool (ft. Richie Stephens andamp; Conkarah)
4) Christmas In the Islands (ft. Rayvon)
5) Holiday in Jamaica (ft. Ne-Yo andamp; Ding Dong)
6) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
7) Open Presents (ft. Romain Virgo)
8) Raggamuffin Christmas (ft. Junior Reid and Bounty Killer)
9) Christmas Time (ft. Jamila Falak)
10) 12 Days of Christmas (ft. Beenie Man and Craigy T)
11) Warm andamp; Easy
12) Sunny Celebration (ft. Joss Stone)
13) Catch Myself Some Rays (ft. CARYS)
14) Love When It’s Christmas
15) I’ll Be Home for Christmas
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