Sean Paul Says Verzuz Against Shaggy Would Be “Unfair”
According to Sean Paul, a Verzuz battle against Shaggy would be “unfair” because he has had 19 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, while the Bombastic singer has only 3 but with over 15 million copies. (Shaggy actually had 8 songs on the Hot 100.)
Speaking with The Breakfast Club on Power 105.1 FM, Paul said that he’s still not fond of the idea of doing a Verzuz with anyone. When co-host Angela Yee proposed a more streamlined battle, one focused on just his catalog of straight Dancehall tracks, Sean Paul responded that the previously held ‘Beenie Man Verzuz Bounty Killer’ battle already made that happen.
However, Yee quickly countered that the fans needed more of that.
“So you want see me go at Shaggy then!” Paul said, to co-hosts Charlemagne Tha God and DJ Envy’s approval.
Yee then began strategizing that they’d need 20 Dancehall songs each to fit the Verzuz format, but Sean Paul stopped her in her tracks and said that he could select his 19 songs, which made the Billboard Hot 100.
When Angela asked how many of Shaggy’s songs made the list, Paul told her 3 but he added that the It Wasn’t Me singer had surpassed him in sales, selling over 15 million copies.
“It’s a different thing … he sold 15 million, so I didn’t sell that, so you know for me it’s just an unfair thing. It’s like putting on Mike Tyson with his boss Muhammad Ali, it’s like different time frames, they’re different you know…,” he argued.
Co-host Charlemagne pointed out that Dancehall music is timeless, so the fans wouldn’t see it that way. “I think the thing about y’all’s music though, it’s so timeless though, you know what I mean,” Charlemagne said, to which Paul agreed.
Sean Paul has had four songs at No. 1 on the Hot 100, namely Get Busy, Temperature, Baby Boy with Beyonce, and Cheap Thrills with Sia. His other songs which peaked in the Top 10 of the chart are: Gimme The Light, We Be Burnin’, Break It Off with Rihanna, (When You Gonna) Give It Up To Me with Keyshia Cole, Rockabye with Clean Bandit and Anne-Marie, and Do You Remember with Jay Sean and Lil Jon.
Outside of the Top 10, Paul’s other nine Hot 100 entries are: I’m Still In Love With You with Sasha, Like Glue, Breathe with Blu Cantrell, So Fine, Subeme La Radio with Enrique Iglesias, Got 2 Luv U with Alexis Jordan, Shake Señora with Pitbull and T-Pain, She Doesn’t Mind and Bailando with Enrique Iglesias.
Shaggy, on the other hand, has had two songs at No. 1 on the Hot 100, namely Angel with Rayvon and It Wasn’t Me with RikRok. Boombastic was his only other song to enter the Top 10.
His other five entries in the Hot 100 are That Girl with Maxi Priest, Oh Carolina, Luv Me, Luv Me with Janet Jackson (which he was later forced to re-record with Samantha Cole), Piece Of My Heart with Marsha and I Need Your Love with Mohombi, Faydee, and Costi.
In a Verzuz Dancehall battle, the Hot Shot singer could also draw for hit songs like Why You Treat Me So Bad with Grand Puba, Freaky Girl with The Kraft, Dance & Shout, Strength Of A Woman, Church Heathen, Hey Sexy Lady with Brian and Tony Gold, Mad Mad World with Sizzla and Collie Buddz, Ready Fi Di Ride, and Big Up with Rayvon.
So, a Sean Paul vs Shaggy battle may actually be a more leveled playground than suggested.
The Dutty Rock artist, however, maintains that clashing in the Jamaican music space has had a negative impact on the genre and that he prefers “unity”.
“I don’t know man, I still don’t feel that vibe, I still ain’t feeling that vibe,” he said.
“I have a niche space in the business … and so for me its kinda weird to battle someone from my own genre, and I’m one of the most successful there. It’s kinda a little weird to me at this point being one of the eldest statesman,” he added. “The stance on it is just more of a unity thing for me.”
Watch Sean Paul’s full interview on the Breakfast Club here: