Fresh off the 20-year anniversary of the chart-topping hit, It Wasn't Me, dancehall megastar Shaggy has linked up with Cheetos to bring some nostalgic feels to Super Bowl LV.
The ad features Shaggy alongside celeb couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis in a comedic rendition of the classic hit centered around Cheetos' new Crunch Pop Mix. The Boombastic rapper told Cheddar that it's been an amazing ride to be able to celebrate a song that has stayed relevant for two decades, especially on such a massive stage like the Super Bowl.
"The thing about this song is it's relatable. I think that's what really did it," he told Cheddar.
"It's big because this is arguably one of the biggest Super Bowls in decades because of the fact that for the first time it's during COVID, of course," he added.
Much like the NFL pressing on through the pandemic, Shaggy said he hasn't let the impact of the virus lower the volume on his mic. Last year, he released Hot Shot 2020, a re-recording of the 2000 release.
This year also is shaping up to be a good one for the rapper as he gears up for a new release. "I just did an amazing record with my friend Anthony Hamilton that I'm really, really proud of," he said.
When it comes to adapting to the times, the proof is in the pudding, Shaggy explained, and he attributed his keeping a finger on the pulse of the culture by connecting with young creatives. He also touted championing artist empowerment and the new age of music discovery on social media apps like TikTok.
"It's amazing to watch, amazing to be a part of and to have gone through the journey from when it was cassettes all the way to CDs, to downloads, to ringtones, to streaming," he said. "We have seen music gone back into the hands of the artist, where a lot of it is controlled by the artist interaction with their fan base and that determines them getting on playlists and stuff like that."
Shaggy also shared similar sentiments circulating among musicians in regards to what many of them deem as unfair practices on the part of the record labels when it comes to fair payment in the age of streaming.
"Of course we're hoping legislation comes down to really bring a lot more money to streaming for a lot of these artists. These record companies have been having a field day for quite a while, and I've seen throughout this pandemic, where artists didn't get to tour a lot, especially [when] they were really counting on their streaming income," he said.
