Veteran reggae-dancehall artiste Shaggy has appeared on the US Afrobeats Song Chart for the first time following his 2023 collaboration with Rwandan singer Bruce Melodie.
Sometime in October last year, both artistes worked on the song When She Is Around, with Shaggy dropping some powerful verses on the track. The song has since made its way to the US Afrobeats Chart and has reportedly debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart.
When She’s Around blends African rhythms and reggae vibes. Its music video, shot in Miami Beach by director Jay Will, has also accumulated over 5.3 million views on YouTube since its release.
Shaggy had praised Bruce Melodie in an interview with DancehallMag, saying the singer’s talent was “undeniable,” and further indicated that the collaboration would open up “new horizons” for both of them.
It would be recalled that Afrobeats Plus, last year, placed the spotlight on Bruce Melodie, whose performance and composition are refreshing and heartwarming.
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The singer has been on the scene for a while but gained more social media traction following the release of When She’s Around featuring the Strength of a Woman composer, Shaggy.
The sound gained attention, especially in his home country, and as a result, the young performer embarked on an ‘iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour’ to promote his works.
When She’s Around was the first time the East African musician was partnering with a Jamaican artiste, a collaboration the singer described as “enlightening and enjoyable.”
In October, the fast-rising Afrobeat star was named the Best Rwandan Artiste at the 2023 Trace Music Awards held in Kigali.
Shaggy himself is celebrated for his infectious Jamaican-inspired rhythms with songs like It Wasn’t Me, Boombastic, In the Summertime, and Angel.
In November 2023, he launched the broadcasting channel, ‘Shaggy’s Boombastic Radio’, in the United States, which features exclusive year-round content ranging from reggae, dancehall, and Afrobeats.