Looking back from this moment in 2005, it’s easy to forget that just a few years ago, raw uncut Jamaican dancehall was still considered “underground” music. It’s hard to remember a time when hip-hop stars weren’t rocking Rasta colors and R&B idols weren’t jumping on reggae beats. But that’s the way it was just a few years back, before Sean Paul’s landmark “DUTTY ROCK” (VP/Atlantic) changed the game.
“We flip the switch and the game just change,” as Sean rhymes on the new album. “Dutty Cup music drive them insane.” And now it’s time for him to “Change The Game” all over again.
The music scene just hasn’t been the same since Kingston, Jamaica-born Sean Paul Henriques blazed a firestorm of hit tunes ? from “Gimme The Light” to “Get Busy” to “Like Glue” ? that went straight from the hardcore dancehall audience to the international market with no remix required. Then came Sean’s massive duets, “Baby Boy” (with Beyoncé) and “I’m Still In Love With You” (with Sasha), which kept the flame burning bright and swelled the ranks of believers even more. Carrying on the work of dancehall superstars like Yellowman, Shabba Ranks, Super Cat, and Beenie Man in bringing the infectious sound of the Kingston streets to a wider audience, Sean Paul proved once and for all that authentic Jamaican dancehall reggae could be embraced as popular music on a global scale.
Besides containing five smash singles, “DUTTY ROCK” was certified RIAA double-platinum in the United States and sold nearly six million copies worldwide.
In the wake of the album’s groundbreaking success, Sean racked up numerous prestigious awards, including the Grammy for Best Reggae Album ? redefining the category in the process ? along with nominations in the Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best New Artist categories. He won MTV Europe’s Best New Artist Award, while earning MTV Video Music Award and American Music Award nominations. He gathered multiple ASCAP/PRS kudos in pop, R&B, hip-hop, rap, and reggae categories, and earned Source, MOBO, Juno, Much Music, and International Reggae and World Music awards.