Reggae superstar Sean Paul is set to be honored with the lifetime achievement award at the 2024 staging of the Jamaica Poetry Festival on August 11.
The annual event organized and promoted by dub poet Yasus Afari will be held at the Caribbean Sculpture Park on the campus of the University of Technology with tributes to Gil Scott-Heron, Carla Thomas-Hewitt and Professor Edward Baugh.
While is might be strange for some to see the pop star as a poet, some of Sean Paul’s songs with lyrics that can be seen as poetic include “Never Gonna Be the Same” (2005) with the lyrics, “Said it nuh easy fi understand dem, again mi haffi call pon the Father name You’re gone, it’s so hard when you lose someone (ay), gone but not forgotten Mi seh there ain’t no givin’ in Mi seh di pressure dem bringing life An di youth dem di juggling Nuh true mi nah shufflin.’
On “Hold My Hand” ft. Keri Hilson (2009) he professes Shakespearean words of love, “Girl I’m gonna love you like never before And give you the love that you’ve been longing for When your friends ask what I did to you Girl just say, ‘Sean Paul, he’s the one that made it true.'”
“I’m Still in Love with You” ft. Sasha (2002) he sings “But a man gotta do what a man gotta do Girl well I never had for promise, you no bling bling for hold you girl But now I just wanna let you know, that I’m still in love with you”
The Catholic raised deejay who went to the Jewish school Hillel Academy has over 11 billion streams on Spotify and 19 US Billboard Hot 100 hits including four No.1s, the most for any Jamaican artist in history. Sean also attended the College Of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST) now known as the University Of Technology.
The other lifetime achievement honoree is Dr.Aflred Sangster, OJ, former president of the University and cousin of Donald Sangster, Jamaica’s former Prime Minster.
The Dutty Cup deejay started his career In 1994, appearing in Carrot Jetter’s music video “Nice Time.” Zachary Harding introduced him to his brother Jeremy, who became Paul’s manager after hearing him perform live. Paul recorded “Baby Girl” during their first meeting, and they collaborated on multiple tracks, including “Infiltrate,” which gained local radio attention.
By 1997, Paul collaborated with Spanner Banner on “Ladies Man” and appeared in the 1998 film Belly, performing “Top Shotter” with DMX and Mr. Vegas. Paul’s debut album, Stage One, was released in 2000. In 2001, he achieved US success with “Gimme the Light,” leading to a deal with Atlantic Records and the release of his second album, Dutty Rock, in 2002. This album included hits like “Get Busy” and earned Paul a Grammy for Best Reggae Album and is certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America in the US for sales surpassed 3,000,000 units.
His follow up third album, The Trinity, released in 2005, featured hits like “Temperature” is also certified platinum status.
In 2009, Paul released his fourth album, Imperial Blaze, followed by Tomahawk Technique in 2012, and Full Frequency in 2014. He experienced a resurgence in 2016 with Sia’s “Cheap Thrills” and signed with Island Records, releasing “No Lie” with Dua Lipa. Both songs surpassing 2 billion and 1 billion streams on Spotify respectively.
His 2018 EP, Mad Love the Prequel, included collaborations with artists like David Guetta and Becky G. In 2019, he collaborated with J Balvin on “Contra La Pared” and was honored with the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government. In 2021, Paul released his seventh studio album, Live n Livin, which featured dub poet Mutabaruka on the song Guns of Navarone along with Jesse Royal and Stonebwoy.
He collaborated with Spice and Shaggy in 2021 on “Go Down Deh,” the Canadian certified Platinum single from Spice’s debut album “10”. Sean’s eighth album, Scorcha, was released in 2022. Paul has also ventured into business, establishing Dutty Rock Productions and launching his own brand of Jamaican pepper and patties in the UK. He is active in philanthropy, founding the Sean Paul Foundation, and has spoken out on climate change, advocating for environmental sustainability. In his personal life, Paul married Jodi Stewart in 2012, and they have two children.
