News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Oct. 22, 2024: There’s no denying that dancehall music has firmly established itself in the mainstream music scene. Its influence captivates many, with some eager to collaborate with its artists, while others embrace its lifestyle, culture, and vernacular. Regardless of your perspective, one thing is clear: dancehall has propelled some of Jamaica’s top artists to significant wealth. Here are some of the richest dancehall artists we’ve discovered in 2024, and includes the net worth of stars like Sean Paul, spice & Mavado.
Sean Paul
Grammy-winning dancehall star Sean Paul has achieved fame globally since his debut with the Dutty Cup Crew. The singer, born Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques, has seen his stocks rise due largely to cross over collaborations with several top global artists. His net worth is now put at USD 25 million.
Shaggy
Shaggy, born Orville Richard Burrell in Kingston, has come a long way since his first hit song “Oh Carolina” in 1993. Today, the Grammy-winning singer, who has had tremendous success in his cross over single and album with Sting and his three albums that have been certified Platinum, and one certified Gold, is worth a whopping US $14 million, making him one of the richest dancehall stars today.
Shenseea
Shenseea is a Jamaican singer and dancehall DJ with a net worth of $6 million. She rose to fame through her guest appearance on Kanye West’s 2021 track “Pure Souls” alongside Roddy Ricch, featured on West’s Grammy-nominated album Donda. In 2022, Shenseea released her debut studio album, Alpha, further establishing her presence in the music industry.
Born Chinsea Linda Lee on October 1, 1996, in Mandeville, Jamaica, Shenseea was raised by her Jamaican mother. Her father, of Korean descent, was estranged from her. She attended Mona High School in Saint Andrew Parish and later studied entertainment management at Excelsior Community College in Kingston. However, due to financial struggles, she dropped out to work and support her family.
Shenseea’s career took off in 2015 when she gained attention for her remix of Vybz Kartel’s song “Loodi,” which she performed at Reggae Sumfest. She returned to Reggae Sumfest in 2017 to perform on the main stage and toured Europe with Sean Paul. In 2018, she was featured on Christina Aguilera’s song “Right Moves” from the album Liberation. The following year, she signed with Interscope Records and released the hit song “Blessed,” featuring Tyga.
Shenseea’s breakthrough came in 2021 with her feature on Kanye West’s Donda album, appearing on the songs “Pure Souls” and “Ok Ok pt 2.” “Pure Souls” peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the RIAA. For her work on Donda, Shenseea shared a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. She also won the MOBO Award for Best Reggae.
Spice
Spice, whose real name is Grace Hamilton, has come a long way from the woman who some looked down on and frowned on as being too “vulgar” with her performance and lyrics. The Jamaican star, who crossed over by becoming part of the reality show, “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” has also seen her net worth rise. The star is now worth USD 5 million.
Spragga Benz
Spragga Benz, born in May 1969 in Kingston, Jamaica, is a renowned dancehall DJ with a net worth of $5 million. Originally nicknamed “Spaghetti” due to his tall and thin build, Spragga Benz began his music career in 1991. He released his debut album, Jack It Up, in 1994, followed by several other albums, including Uncommonly Smooth (1995), Two Bad DJs with Beenie Man (1999), Fully Loaded (2000), Thug Nature (2002), Live Good (2007), and Shotta Culture (2010).
His track “Oh Yeah” featuring Foxy Brown charted at #63 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart, while his collaboration with Kevin Lyttle on “Turn Me On” peaked at #4 in the U.S. and #20 on the same chart. Over the years, Spragga Benz has collaborated with numerous artists, such as Carly Simon, Wyclef Jean, Lady Saw, Shabba Ranks, Nas, and Stephen Marley. He also made appearances in the films Brooklyn Babylon and Shottas.
Beenie Man
Beenie Man, who is considered one of the original dancehall stars, has also achieved Grammy fame by winning Best Reggae Album for the 2000’s Art & Life. Born Anthony Moses Davis in Kingston, Jamaica, the singer is worth USD 4 million.
Mavado
Mavado, who made his debut studio album, Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks, in 2007 when he was 26 years old, has seen his star rise with collaborations with artists such as Nicki Minaj, Future and Ace Hood, Lil’ Kim, Wyclef Jean, Laza Morgan, Junior Reid, Snoop Lion, and Iggy Azalea. Mavado, born David Constantine Brooks, has a net worth of USD 4 million.
By NAN ET Editor
