Music
Why are you releasing a 'Best Of' album now?
"Well, the record company was going to do it anyway so I figured I might as well get involved! Every time I have some chart success or get back on the scene, the record company that has my songs will compile some sort of hits collection. This time I just thought, 'Why don't I make an official CD where I choose the artwork, the songs and the mixes?'"
What's been the highlight of your career, do you think?
"The Hot Shot album! To have a diamond record [ten million album sales in the US] puts you in a category with Bob Marley. I was selling the numbers that Bob Marley sold... and I wasn't dead! But I still have time to do more."
Are you surprised you're still around and making music after all this time?
"To survive 20 years and still be the man to beat is incredible. A lot of people have come along since me, like Sean Paul, but no-one has sold the numbers I have and no-one has the No.1s I have. After all is said and done, I'm still the man to beat."
Does it bother you that you're sometimes dismissed as a novelty act?
"'I've always been a novelty act. First of all I was the "one-hit wonder", then I was a "two-hit wonder". Then a "three-hit wonder", a "four-hit wonder"... whoops, he's got a Greatest Hits CD out! Now they say, 'He'll never have another one, trust me'. What can you do? At least I keep people talking."
Do you deserve your reputation as a ladies' man?
"It was all by accident. Nothing was planned. I just did 'Mr Boombastic' and overnight my audience became 90% women. All my concerts were packed with women. Every time I moved my hips, you heard screaming. My name was changed to Mr Luva Luva and the record company rode that."
Was it unfortunate that the record company chose to focus on that rather than your tunes?
"There's nothing unfortunate about that. I love f***ing women every way, so it's just a bonus. I just got chicks easier after that!"
What's your main piece of advice for chaps who are rubbish with women?
"It's just confidence. Women love confidence. That's what they like in a man. They like men to be men. I don't like indecisive women either - there's no bigger turn-off."
What about chat-up lines?
"As far as getting to know a woman goes, people talk about chat-up lines, but it's really all about compliments. You compliment a woman's shoes and her handbag and you're good!"
Have you ever been forced to use the line, 'It Wasn't Me'?
"No, I'm too good and I don't get caught! I don't have to have an excuse!"
You've been quite critical of President Bush in the past...
"I stand by those comments. He's probably one of the worst presidents ever! It shows the ignorance of people in America that he was voted in for a second term. I just couldn't fathom it."
Are you a Barack Obama fan?
"People say he lacks experience, but Kennedy didn't have much experience and neither did Ronald Reagan. The thing about Obama is that even if he doesn't deliver, he'll at least make the rest of us want to f***ing deliver. It's like watching Rocky. You don't give a f**k if he wins the fight or not, you're just so motivated that he's going for it. You watch Barack Obama speak and he puts a fire under your ass. He gets you charged up to do something and he's a symbol of hope. I doubt he'll change the world, but he may just provide us with the motivation."
Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection is out now.
