“Shaggy Did Not Get My Permission To Use My Song,” Says Eek-A-Mouse

Update : Shaggy’s representatives have confirmed that Mi Nuh Know was properly cleared through Will Adams with Wise Music, on behalf of Embassy Music (Eek’s publisher) in September 2021, well in advance of the release of Mi Nuh Know on March 18.

The original story continues below.

Dancehall legend Eek-A-Mouse says he’s still open to working with Shaggy, even though, according to him, the It Wasn’t Me singer failed to get his permission to interpolate lyrics from the 1981 hit song, Wa-Do-Dem in the recently released Mi Nuh Know .

Shaggy‘s song, which also interpolated lyrics from Ninjaman’s Don, was released on March 18 with a Jay Will-directed music video, shot in Miami.

“Shaggy did not get my permission to use my song. I have not heard from him or anyone on his team, please tell them to call me on WhatsApp,” Eek-A-Mouse told DancehallMag.

Eek-A-Mouse, who currently resides in Sweden, added that he would be willing to work with Shaggy on a follow-up song.  “Take that song to the top of the world chart…then he must mention my name on all media platforms, and also since it was my anthem that he reserved…he and I must do the follow-up song,” the singjay said.

“He and I also have a Reggae Festival together on July 30,” he added.

The 64-year-old, whose real name is Ripton Hylton, is credited as a songwriter on Shaggy’s song.  The other credited writers are Wa-Do-Dem‘s late producer Henry Lawes, Shaggy, and producer Shane Hoosang.

On March 17, BBC 1Xtra host Seani B asked Shaggy whether he had contacted  Eek-A-Mouse, to which he replied: “I made sure he was taken care of.”

Seani B then jokingly teased, “because…you don’t want him fi start cuss now.”

However, an agitated Eek-A-Mouse has since uploaded a YouTube video yesterday (March 30), part of which features a recent phone conversation with Seani B.

“What the f-ck Shaggy had before this sh-t [Mi Nuh Know] here?” he told the radio host. “This big up Shaggy f-cking name. Shaggy shoulda put Eek-A-Mouse in the f-cking video…”

“Ah one thing dat song lef out,” Eek added, before scatting the pre-chorus from his original: “Biddie-biddie bon-gong // Giddie bon-gong giddie-men”.

Wa-Do-Dem was the title track on Eek-A-Mouse’s 1981 album of the same name.  The album featured another hit Ganja Smuggling, as well as Long Time Ago, Noah’s Ark, and Operation Eradication.