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Reggae Star Shaggy Spearheads Hurricane Melissa Relief in Jamaica
1 Nov
Summary
- Shaggy coordinates emergency flights to deliver supplies to hurricane-hit Black River
- Jamaican music exec Sharon Burke joins relief efforts as Shaggy's business partner
- Shaggy plans storm relief benefit concert for later this year
In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm to hit Jamaica in modern history, reggae icon Shaggy has been spearheading relief efforts in the devastated town of Black River. As of November 1st, 2025, the singer has coordinated a total of four flights filled with essential supplies like water, food, and other necessities to be flown in from the United States.
Shaggy, who was in Miami when the Category 5 hurricane struck, immediately began making calls to organize the emergency response. He reached out to friends like Florida injury attorney Dan Newlin and the U.S.-based Jamaican charity Food for the Poor, with which he has collaborated for years. Together with his business partner Sharon Burke, one of Jamaica's leading music executives, Shaggy has been on the ground in Black River, distributing aid and assessing the damage.
According to Shaggy, the town is in ruins, with many residents left homeless and without access to basic services like running water and electricity. The singer has described a dire situation, with "bodies trapped in homes that people haven't been able to clear." In response, Shaggy and his team have been working tirelessly to provide relief, while also planning a future benefit concert to support the ongoing recovery efforts in Black River and other affected areas.
