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10 Questions with ... Shaggy
August 29, 2006
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NAME:ShaggyPOSITION:MD/MorningsSTATION:WNVZMARKET:Norfolk, VACOMPANY:EntercomBORN:Jan 19RAISED:Virginia Beach, VA
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started out has a intern for the morning show then became Stunt Guy/Morning Show Producer/One Liner Guy/Phone Filter Man/Interview-Set-Er-Up-Er/Music Director. I'm very well rounded.
1. What was your last non-Industry job?
I use to DJ at a skating rink in Virginia Beach. I loved it. The kids just want to have fun they don't want to fight, just dance, skate and make out with there little boyfriends or girlfriends. Plus, I don't drink so when I can rock a party somewhere were alcohol isn't involved I love how those parties get down.
2. What got you interested in Radio?
I honestly wasn't ever interested in radio, Teddy Riley knew the morning girl at Z104 and she made a statement to Teddy that they wanted a young kid that was crazy and would be nuts on the air. So he called me and set it up. I would have to say after the first day I was sucked in, ready to become a known personality here in Virginia.
3. You helped make a name for yourself in the industry with some of the wild stunts you've done with Z104's Morning Zoo. Do you have a favorite?
I've got a couple favorites.
1. I tied chum to my body and went swimming in the ocean for two hours searching for sharks.
2. I got into a plastic trash can and took bets on how many times I could let a car run me over.
3. I got dressed in a suit, which never happens and went into a local Wal-Mart and acted like I was the regional manager and started sending employees home for the day. The funny thing is like five workers left and didn't even ask questions.
4. What's your favorite part of the morning show?
Making Nick and Tricia mad at me....There are times I can tell Nick and Tricia want to go into a certain direction with the show and I will just start going off track just to screw up the flow. But man it makes funny radio.
5. Where do you see yourself in five years?
In jail....But seriously, I would love for one day to become PD at Z104. Think about it, I started out as a intern then part time, soon become full time. Got the chance (thanks DON LONDON and MICHAEL BRYAN) to prove myself as MD. So to become PD of the radio station I grew up listening too would be really dope. But I'm in no rush and MB (Michael Bryan, my PD) has a lot to still teach me about being a great PD. That's not a suck up to the boss I am just honest that dude is teaching me so much.
6. Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?
I've got two really:
1. My Dad he is one of the hardest working men there is and I always tell me friends and family if I could be half the man my dad is I will be a great man.
2. My homeboy Pharrell. I know its sound weird but I have known the dude for so long that he is probably the only person I can pick up the phone and call and tell him anything about this music biz. Also, with both of us being in the industry we both understand what each other go through. He helps me out a lot by cooling me down when I feel like the industry is getting the best of me.
7. Even before being named MD at WNVZ, you'd become buddies with PHARRELL and other artists from the NORFOLK, VIRGINIA BEACH area. How did that come about?
Here is my short and quick story. I use to DJ for Blackstreet back in the day. I did all there shows in town and parties at Tedd Riley's house. Thru Teddy, I met Timbaland and Magoo, I went to Princess Anne High School where through other friends, I met Pharrell and thru him met Chad Hugo. Pharrell, Chad and myself really connected because Pharrell skateboarded and so did I. Then our styles were the same we all rocked out to Steve Miller Band or Pink Floyd but then could flip the script and rock out with Tribe Called Quest or even Big L. Its really hard to find people that do the things you do and then listens to the same music. Thru P (pharrell) I met a lot of celebs even before I was in radio. Now the radio thing just helps the situation.
8. As we head into the end of 2006, what area of your "game" do you think has improved most over the year?
I used to be one dimensional, meaning that most of the people that worked inside the building just looked at me as "That's Shaggy the crazy stunt guy," but now with being MD people in the building make it a point to stop by my office (that's right your boy has a office) just to say hi and see what promotion I got up my sleeve ( don't worry Joe Daddy O it doesn't involve you) lol. There were people in the building I believe from the beginning that had trust in me that I knew the music and I understood the demo. I have to give a special thanks to my OM Don London, and my new boss Michael Bryan (PD) for taking a chance on a guy who had no Selector or MD experience. I told them I would work my tale off and now I sleep at the radio station if you dont believe me ask my fiance.
9. If you were to leave Radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
I would probably go do some A&R work for Star Trak records. That is the label that is owned by the Neptunes. I love finding new music and breaking new songs before anyone else. That is my cheap thrill to find that one record that nobody has heard and say that's a hit and 3 months later it becomes a major hit in the country. I got an early copy of Justin Timberlake's song Sexy Back from Timberland and Z104 was the first station in the country to break that record. There are some record reps who get mad at me but at the end of the day, I want to win and I use my sources to get me there.
10. You find a magic lamp and a genie grants you three wishes for your station not you, personally. What are your three wishes?
1. I want a station helicopter. Can you imagine if I could fly a helicopter? I would be going thru the Taco Bell line in my copter.
2.. Another station vehicle like a Rio just so I can wreck it and not worry about getting fired (isn't a Rio a cheap car?).
3. Madden 07 in the studio I would take everyone's money even the celebs that come thru.
Bonus Questions
The way to a man's heart is said to be through his stomach. What's the way to a woman's heart?
I totally know. Through my extensive studies and hard work, I found out how to win a women's heart. You can be rich, famous and good in bed and honestly none of that matters, if you can't make her laugh. Think about it there are a lot of ugly comedians with hot wives/girlfriends. It's not a trick just learn a joke.
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