Reggae sensation Shaggy reflects on his three-decade career as he releases new feel-good song – and teases more music with Sting

Grammy award winner Shaggy has teamed up with Rwandan artist Bruce Melodie for a new feel-good song making the rounds this holiday season.

The duo stopped by DailyMail.com in New York City to talk about the music collab, their Jingle Ball performances and Shaggy's three-decade career, 23 years after the release of his classic hit “It Wasn't Me.”

Bruce, who is visiting the US for the first time ever, told DailyMail.com that having a song with Shaggy is a “full circle moment.”

'Performing with Shaggy is a dream come true. He came to perform in Rwanda in 2008. I was young and went to the show, but at the time I didn't have money to buy tickets, so I snuck in!' Bruce, 31, said.

Fifteen years later, the pair perform their new song “When She's Around” at IHeartRadio's Jingle Ball in Dallas and Miami.

Shaggy and Bruce Melodie stopped by DailyMail.com in New York City to talk about their music collaboration and Jingle Ball performances

Bruce said Shaggy has acted as a mentor to him in promoting their new song, which was originally Bruce's own song sung in his language Kinyarwanda

Shaggy, 55, has been busy performing around the world since exploding onto the music scene with the 2000 hit 'It Wasn't Me'.

He reflected on his 30-year career and called it a “blessing” that he can still do what he loves.

“Listen, if you could have a career like mine, you made it for me,” Shaggy said. “To still be doing this for over thirty years is a force to be reckoned with and to still be relevant in the game, especially in my genre, is a blessing.”

Just this month, Shaggy took the stage at Jingle Ball Dallas, where he and Bruce made their live debut of their song. The pair then traveled to Jingle Ball Miami to wow the crowd.

Bruce said it was a dream come true to get Shaggy his song, which was originally Bruce's own song, sung in his language Kinyarwanda.

Shaggy said he heard the song and immediately knew he wanted to be there, putting his own spin on it.

“The original song had more of a traditional kind of African beat and we reproduced the song and gave it more of an Afrobeat-style swing,” Shaggy said. “And then I came up with a little dancehall flavor.

“It was kind of a match made in Heaven at that moment!”

Shaggy also has a new title to add to performer, reggae artist and Grammy winner: DJ.

The singer launched his own radio channel on Sirius XM called 'Shaggy's Mr. Boombastic Radio', where he manages the entire listening experience.

“It's a channel of reggae and dancehall – between the 90s and 2000s, when dancehall was at its peak. There’s some Afrobeat, some classics and some new music – that kind of vibe,” Shaggy said.

Just this month, Shaggy took the stage at Jingle Ball Dallas, where he and Bruce made their live debut of the new song. The pair then traveled to Jingle Ball Miami

“Listen, if you could have a career like mine, you made it for me,” Shaggy said. “To still be doing this for thirty years is a force to be reckoned with and to still be relevant in the game, especially in my genre, is a blessing.”

The reggae singer launched his own radio channel on Sirius XM called 'Shaggy's Mr. Boombastic Radio', where he manages the entire listening experience

Although Bruce Melodie is one of the most popular artists in Rwanda, this is his first time visiting the US and Bruce said Shaggy served as a mentor to him.

“I'm learning,” Bruce said. “I learned from Shaggy's that when he does something, he does it until he's done.

'I used to wish that one day I could perform this way for many people. I didn't even want to perform with Shaggy because that's way too far away. And here we are doing it now – I thank God. The circle is round.'

Shaggy said: 'One thing I really admire about him – he's quite a big star in East Africa and playing stadiums and stuff – but his humility is so great and very admirable.

'I think that attitude will get you very far. He is always willing to learn a lot.'

Shaggy, who came out with his own holiday album in 2020 called “Christmas in the Islands,” said he is definitely in the Christmas spirit this year and was buzzing about the holidays in his native Jamaica.

“You know what I like about Christmas?” said Shaggy. 'Christmas in Jamaica is not about mistletoe and snow. It's really about the parties, the family and the food.

'Christmas dinner is very important for us as Caribbean people. So I'm really on a roll. I'm going home in a few hours and really getting into the mood.'

Bruce said that in Rwanda, “It's all about the New Year!”

DailyMail.com last spoke to Shaggy as he teamed up with The Police icon Sting for a one-off show featuring songs from their collaboration album Com Fly Wid Me

When asked if another collaboration with Sting is in the offing, Shaggy said: 'There's always something in the works with Sting'

DailyMail.com last spoke to Shaggy as he teamed up with The Police icon Sting for a one-night show to celebrate the release of their collaborative album Com Fly Wid Me.

The album was produced by Sting and features Shaggy singing the songbook of the legendary Frank Sinatra, but with a reggae twist.

It was their second team after winning the 2018 Grammy for Best Reggae Album for their album 44/876.

When asked if another collaboration with Sting is in the offing, Shaggy said, “There's always something in the works with Sting.

'It all depends on how many glasses of wine we drink that evening and whatever idea pops into our head, we might say, 'Oh my God, here we go again!'

The pair are more than just music partners, but also good friends.

Shaggy said the bromance is still going strong and the pair chat at least twice a week.