Shaggy to give fans fun, 'roller coaster ride' performance in first-ever Summerfest show

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Superstar Shaggy is one of the big-name artists coming to Summerfest this year.

He's performing on the Briggs and Stratton Big Backyard Stage on Saturday, Sept. 4.

The reggae and dancehall musician is known for such hits as 'It Wasn't Me', 'Angel' and 'Oh Carolina'.

CBS 58's Kim Shine talked with him about coming to Milwaukee, and playing Summerfest for the first time.

Shaggy said it's been a while since performance have taken the stage, and he's ready to get back out in front of the fans and feel the adrenaline.

"It feels really good just to be back in front of an audience. I really enjoy that," he explained. "To be at a festival like that in front of all these people getting the energy and the vibe and each audience is different from each city and I'm sure Milwaukee has that kind of energy that will hit you, you know. And I'm just excited to come there and feel that energy. It's been a while."

Shaggy is one of the pioneers of Jamaican reggae and dancehall music, helping push the genres to the top of the US charts.

"I've been fortunate enough to be in the position of carrying culture or culture of Jamaica and the flag. You know, we have some really big pop songs but I also take them through a journey of dancehall, a little bit of reggae, a little bit of hybrid reggae pop, a bit of comedy. It's a roller coaster ride. Roller coasters are always fun."

He doesn't plan on bringing out any special guests during his Summerfest show, but told CBS 58 fans will experience a "cultural riot". 

"I'm the special guest," he laughed. "It's a Shaggy show and we'll be singing songs that you're going to be sitting there like, 'ah, I remember that one. Ah, I remember that one. That's always the situation when people hear these songs. They remember where they were when these songs were really popular."

Shaggy has collaborated with countless artists including Sean Paul and Sting.

He's won two Grammy awards, including one with Sting, for Best Reggae Album, and has been nominated for seven Grammys.

Most recently, he collaborated on 'Good Time' with singer Niko Moon, and 'Go Down Deh' with dancehall and reggae artists Spice and Sean Paul.