Shaggy Celebrates 10 Million Sales Of 'Hotshot' Worldwide

09/06/2001 6:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Jason Gelman

(9/6/01, 6 p.m. ET) -- Shaggy and friends partied Jamaican-style in New York City on Wednesday (September 6) as MCA Records and Big Yard Music Group celebrated the success of the singer's chart-topping album, Hotshot, which achieved worldwide diamond status for 10 million copies sold, 6 million of those in the U.S. alone.

MCA Records president Jay Boberg presented Shaggy with a large plaque in honor of his amazing accomplishment. "It's overwhelming," Shaggy told LAUNCH. "Not just because it benefits me, but it's a first for reggae, and it's even more overwhelming because it doesn't happen very often in reggae music."

Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent, Shaggy's partner on the Number One single "It Wasn't Me," added, "I think I'm the luckiest person in the world. Last year I was sitting home wondering to myself, 'What am I going to do with my life?' And now look at me--I'm on an album that has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, and at a diamond party no less, so I can't complain."

The Jamaican-themed celebration at Manhattan's Metropolitan Pavilion featured outstanding performances by Shaggy and Big Yard family members RikRok, Rayvon, Prince Mydas, Marsha, and Brian & Tony Gold, among others.

Guests at the party were treated to Jamaican jerk chicken, red snapper, rice and peas, and other traditional Caribbean food. Shaggy also made sure his guests had one-of-a-kind drinks named after himself and the artists on his record label. Drinks served included:

Shaggy Jamaican Angel: Light and dark rum with creme de coca.

Rayvon Sugar Ray Ray: Daiquiri with bananas, strawberries, and light rum

RikRok Banger: Pirates rum, dark rum, orange, and pineapple juices

Prince Mydas Royal Rum Runner: Orange juice, coconut rum, and cranberry juice

Brian & Tony Gold Golden Sunrise: Light rum, pineapple, and lime juice

Marsha Electric Boogie Blue: Light rum, blue caracoa, and lime juice

Shaggy had more reason to celebrate since several of his fellow Big Yard artists are due to release albums soon. Rayvon's album, featuring his current single, "2 Way," is due in December, and a solo album from RikRok will follow.

RikRok gave LAUNCH the scoop about his upcoming set. "Shaggy's album was Shag-adelic and my album is going to be RikRok-adelic," he joked. "It is a slightly different vibe. We're using the same producers and the same writers. It's going to be more of an R&B kind of vibe, but with reggae influences."

RikRok explained that the Big Yard family has been so busy lately that it's been hard to enjoy all of the recent success, "I'm really grateful for the success, but they've been keeping us so busy that we don't even have a chance to let it impact. It's things like this--the diamond party--that we kind of stop and look back and say, 'Hold on. We just sold 10 million albums…10 million albums…10 million albums!' You've got to say it a couple of times, but it's a great feeling though. I'm really grateful, and I think it proves that it all boils down to good music."

RikRok added, "The greatest thing about it is that Big Yard really is a family--a whole bunch of good people coming together, having fun, making good music and being successful at it."

In related news, Shaggy and company performed yesterday (September 6) on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and Shaggy, RikRok, and Rayvon will perform Friday (September 7) at the all-star salute to Michael Jackson at Madison Square Garden in New York. "I'm going to be a groupie there," said RikRok. "Shaggy, Rayvon, and I rehearsed on Tuesday [September 4]. We're going to do 'It Wasn't Me' and 'Angel.' Michael has an orchestra, and they played it a little bit differently, so it's definitely going to be interesting."

Shaggy told LAUNCH that he's really looking forward to performing at the Jackson tribute Friday. "Michael Jackson is the best. He's the man," gushed Shaggy. "If he misses on this new album, I'll still buy three copies of it."

-- Jason Gelman and Anna Maria Gibson, New York

Got news tips, comments, or questions? Send them to newstips@launch.com.