By: Nicholas Nam
On May 10, two days before his new project’s official release, Shaggy, in collaboration with VP Records and Ranch Entertainment, hosted a listening party at Circle House in Miami, Florida for a select group of guests to get a sneak peek of the sounds and stories that color his latest EP, In the Mood.
For an hour over a Zoom call, the diamond-selling artist cycled through a few of the tracks (such as “Liquor Buss,” featuring Noah Powa and Future Fambo and “Don’t Run,” featuring Skinny Fabulous) on the soca-influenced project, giving context to his ambitions, and welcoming Kes, who is featured on the track “Mood,” to join in on the fun.
While some guests, including press and recording colleagues, were able to venture to Circle House, the Zoom meeting allowed attendees to beam in from Jamaica to Kenya and England. Much to the delight of the guests, Shaggy shared insights into the EP’s recording process, his hopes for Caribbean music, and more, before opening up to a Q&A session for those present. He also debuted the music video for “Whine and Jumping,” which features soca sensation Patrice Roberts.
After the Zoom ended, the event continued in person, with guests able to connect with the artist, indulge in some authentic Jamaican food, and carry the music-fueled vibes through the rest of the afternoon.