Priory St. Ann, Jamaica — Last Saturday night marked a historic moment as Grammy-winning superstar Sean Paul took the stage at Rebel Salute for the very first time. It has been six years since Sean performed a full length set in Jamaica, despite his global accolades and a plethora of performances across the world. The Dutty Rock artist confessed to feeling a touch of nervousness as he pushed through to entertain the Jamaican crowd at Grizzlys Plantation Cove.
He did not deliver the usual B-side performance as is customary for most artists at Rebel Salute over its 30 year run, but as he entered the stage patrons eagerly raised their phones, capturing the essence of dancehall’s most streamed artist in 2023 for his one hour long greatest hits set. Yet, even with the attention of the crowd, the seasoned artist couldn’t escape the jitters.
“Nerves tonight likkle bit because I tour the world a lot and I do a lot of shows elsewhere, but you know Jamaican people already want a good show. So we try put-on an entertaining one for them. Some great artists there, Luciano, Leroy Smart, and these things, so it brought back a lot of memories, and the nerves came but we fought through it, man, and did it,” shared Sean Paul in a post performance interview backstage.
The 51-year-old Rockabye hitmaker said his debut performance was significant for more than one reason, reflecting on his childhood memories. “First time, I mean used to go school in Mandeville and about two years before it actually became just a show, we used to look up to the artists them that were from the area, that’s Tony Rebel and the great Garnet Silk, so it’s a crazy vibe being here,” he revealed.
“It’s been a long time to come, I have friends that come every year and tell me say yo it’s a nice roots stuff, so when Rebel called me the time, I just call the booking agent and say me and you make sure it just lock off them time deh,” Sean continued.
Titling himself as a “reggae and dancehall soldier,” Sean perform songs like “I’m Still In Love With You,” “Gimme The Light,” “Baby Boy” and more hits in a camouflage jacket, neon green jogging pant, yellow bandana and shades. He expressed his pride in contributing to the cultural narrative saying “I see myself as a reggae and dancehall soldier; it takes a lot of different people to contribute to the culture and the history, so my part has been to wave the flag in places that weren’t familiar with it. I am honored for being able to do that.”
Recently the multi-Platinum singer faced backlash for speaking out against clash culture in dancehall with after he told Stefflon Don and Jada Kingdom to set better examples. Some people on social media questioned his intention and distant privilege as a top selling artist but Sean addressed the question he says often comes his way, pondering why he chooses to reside in Jamaica. “A lot of people ask me how come you still live in Jamaica, and I don’t understand why they ask me that because these people made me, so it’s for me to just take the culture that I learn and go away would be wrong. I want to stay here and take part and make history,” he affirmed.
Sean Paul’s last major performance in Jamaica was at Reggae Sumfest 2017, he also performed at that festival in 2014 and prior to that in 2004.
In December, he made an appearance at Popcaan’s Unruly Fest and earlier last year he appeared at Jangas Sound Bar.
“Big up to Jamaican people; I’m sorry it’s been such a long time; there will be more,” Sean commented about his lengthy hiatus from the Jamaican people.
