The Story of 'Get Busy' by Sean Paul

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Published 2022-12-08
Growing up in Kingston, Jamaica, Sean Paul Henriques fell in love with dancehall music but never imagined he’d one day become the genre’s most internationally renowned artist. After years of building a fanbase in Jamaica and the diaspora, his second album, Dutty Rock, became a make-or-break opportunity to prove that dancehall beats could transcend culture and break into the pop mainstream. He accomplished that and more with the timeless party anthem, “Get Busy”, accompanied by producer Steven ‘Lenky’ Marsden’s legendary Diwali Riddim as the track’s foundation.

VICE met up with Sean Paul in Kingston to learn about his signature fusion of Jamaican Patois and hip-hop slang, how his upbringing influenced his musical style, and the legacy of the first-ever dancehall song to top the international charts.

00:00 Intro
05:16 Becoming a household name in Jamaica
11:00 How 'Get Busy' came about
17:30 Little X's basement party video

   • World News  

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#musicvideo #getbusy #seanpaul
All Comments (21)
  • @mwangope
    Youngins have no idea the chokehold Sean Paul's music had on us in early 00s. This man made every party LIIIIITTTT
  • @shaheenal-asadi
    "The Story Of" has to be one of my favorite vice series, thank you for capturing this moment in time
  • @paullopez2021
    Sean Paul is crazy humble. I’m really surprised how down to earth he is, after all his success. He was such a big deal in the 2000s. His songs still get played on the radio today - on the same stations from 15-20 years ago too. I still listen to his songs from time to time.
  • @Maynard0504
    Lenky is a genius and props to Sean for listening to advice from people around him. The way he taught him to change up the scale mode he sings in and harmonize with his own back vocals is what really sells the song
  • @miggy_chagon6630
    "Get Busy" and "I'm still in love with you" will forever be some of the greatest tracks in history.
  • @Wanyoez
    that part where Sean and Lenky just tell each other how much they changed each other's lives...so so wholesome! damn!
  • @traptgenres9751
    Diwali Riddim was at the pinnacle of Dancehall All those songs on that beat was uniquely mixed shout out Lenky
  • @kastrie89
    All these years later and this song is STILL A WHOLE BOP!!!!!!
  • @bonjouritsready
    This song and Temperature were (and still are) absolutely huge in the club
  • @lionessstarseed6812
    This “making of” gave me chills all the way through. What an epic, magical journey. Sean Paul deserves every bouquet flowers he gets, he put our Caribbean cultural roots on the map in incredible ways and made history while doing it. Legendary.
  • @cchanner5250
    Sean Paul is legendary. Even before the Dutty Rock album, his tracks are10/10. Deport Dem, Concrete…. To this day, Diwali riddim can shut down the club. Any track🔥🔥🔥. Jamaica to di world!!! 🇯🇲
  • @Sublimefireflyy
    What I love about him is that he gives credit to the entire machine that built him. Many Artists can’t or will not do that. It’s commendable
  • @NyneElevun
    This song was craaazy when it dropped. Still is. That whole Dutty Rock album was/is 🔥
  • @SYLPT93
    For a producer to still play a melody after such a long time deserves some credits!
  • @elishaedward4109
    Diwali riddim is still one of my favorite riddims to this day. Big up to lenky for this masterpiece.
  • @iheartwaffles91
    This is what MTV should be doing. This is a true party song and to know how it was created is just..idk so cool. I need more of these from different types of artists. All types of music. Thank you Vice. 😌
  • @czar_cz
    Sean Paul is like a doctors prescription, you can’t understand a word, but you still take it.
  • @nattyphysicist
    As a Toronto area Caribbean kid, the Get Busy video was like a shot to the heart. We loved it so much.