Shaggy’s viral interview spotlights Caribbean music’s foothold in radio

When DJ Mr Famous sat down with Grammy winner Shaggy on Roadblock Radio’s Island Mix, one line from the dancehall legend went viral on social media: “There’s no one king for a genre.”

“Beenie Man is a king. Kartel is a king. Shabba is a king,” Shaggy said, then grinned and added, “I’m a king.”

But the conversation was about more than who deserves the dancehall crown. It pointed to something bigger, Jamaican/Caribbean music now having a foothold on prime-time American radio.

Every Sunday from 7 p.m. to midnight, urban Power 96/Roadblock Island Mix dedicates a full five hours to reggae, dancehall, soca, konpa, Afrobeats, and the classics that never get old on a mainstream platform. And given Shaggy’s own career, it’s hard to think of a better voice to underscore just how significant this is.

“When I started, there was no radio station that played dancehall or reggae,” Shaggy told Mr. Famous. “There’s no reggae budget. I realised that I was in the underground, so I had to work 10 times harder with 10 times less budget, 10 times less sleep, and make my records 10 times better. That’s just to have a level playing field.”

Miguel ‘Mijo’ Irizarry, brand manager and PM Drive host at Power 96 Miami, told The Gleaner that Caribbean music naturally belongs on mainstream dials after shaping South Florida’s identity for over 20 years.

“Our throwback shift highlights the ’90s and ’00s tracks that defined South Florida,” Irizarry explained. “Classic dancehall, reggae, and soca were a part of that era. The Island Mix brings those authentic roots back to our dial, making Sunday nights a natural extension of our throwback sound.”

For Irizarry, partnering with Roadblock Radio CEO Kacy Rankine bridges corporate broadcasting with the community.

DJ Mr Famous emphasises that building listener loyalty starts with recognising the music’s cultural depth. “Dancehall, reggae, and soca are connected to memories, family, home, and culture,” Mr Famous said.

“Whether someone is listening in South Florida, New York, Jamaica, or somewhere else, I want them to feel that connection when they tune in. When I say, ‘This is DJ Mr Famous. This is Roadblock Radio,’ I’m proud of what that represents,” he said.

That creative freedom set the stage for the headline-making Shaggy exchange, where the icon challenged how younger generations view dancehall’s legacy, while also addressing Spice’s recording deal and his own early career struggles.

“His answer to the ‘King of Dancehall’ question started a big discussion,” Mr Famous observed, echoing Shaggy’s warning against viewing history strictly through a modern lens. “Not because it wasn’t on Instagram didn’t mean it didn’t happen. There’s a lot of grounds that was made before you were where you’re at.”

While Shaggy’s comments sparked the immediate debate, the platform broadcasting them represents the real long-term story that sees the door for airplay for music from the Caribbean now wide open.