With countless hits and over 120 countries toured, Sean Paul is arguably Jamaica’s top export, the biggest global star the “little island with the big sound” has yet produced. Born Sean Paul Henriques in Kingston in 1973, the dancehall deejay (as a mic controller is known in JA) has dominated global charts since he burst onto the scene in the late ‘90s. Three decades on, he shows no signs of stopping.

Sean’s introduction to the international stage was the 1997 boom tune “Infiltrate,” an instant smash wherever reggae music was played. By the time he released his debut LP (Stage One, 2000) dancehall hits like “Deport Them”; “No Bligh” and “Hot Gal Today” (w/ singer Mr. Vegas) had already made him the highest-selling artist on VP records, the NY-based distributor which provided Jamaican producers their primary conduit to a global market. When Sean and Vegas landed a cameo in Hype Williams’ 1998 film Belly (and a musical collaboration with rap star DMX on the soundtrack) the rising star’s undeniable appeal to the hip-hop market was likewise demonstrated.

In 2001, Sean scored another international hit with “Gimme the Light” and in 2002 “Get Busy”–on the Bollywood-inflected Diwali riddim–became his first #1, early signs that his sophomore album Dutty Rock would break the mold for dancehall. Dutty Rock ultimately spawned four Top 15 Billboard hits–including “Like Glue” and “I’m Still In Love With You” f. Sasha–and won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album. In the very same period, his voice powered hits for Beyoncé (“Baby Boy”); Blu Cantrell (“Breathe”) and Busta Rhymes (“Make It Clap”)–proving that his midas touch with a hook could not be constrained by one genre.

Sean’s 2005 album Trinity broke new records, debuting at #5 and quickly achieving Platinum status, powered by the monster hit “Temperature.” Sean’s third #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Temperature” took the international star global, reaching the Top 10 in Canada & France and the Top 20 in Australia & UK.

Subsequent releases (from 2009’s Imperial Blaze to 2022’s Scorcha) kept him consistently near the top of the charts in every imaginable market, from pop (“No Lie” with Dua Lipa; “Cheap Thrills” w/ Sia; “Rockabye” w/ Clean Bandit ) to EDM (“Come To Me” w/ Major Lazer, “Mad Love” w/ Dave Guetta & Becky G) to Latin (“Contra La Pared” w/ J Balvin). Platinum crossovers–“Niña Bonita” earned Paul and collaborator Feid “Best Collaboration” at the 2024 Latin AMAs, the same year “No Lie” was certified Diamond in Brazil–are equally matched with core dancehall hits like “Bring It” (on Dave Kelly’s classic Showtime riddim), “Go Down Deh” (a collaboration with Spice & Shaggy). A role as Gwen Stefani’s Coach Advisor on Season 22 of The Voice (2022) made him a TV star as well.

By the 2020s, Sean Paul’s status as the world’s foremost representative of Brand Jamaica had been officially recognized by the Jamaican Government with an Order of Distinction (2019) but with decades of awards, chart-topping hits and a worldwide fanbase, his legacy as a musical icon is recognized universally.