Shigga Shay

Pek Jin Shen was born on 12 September 1992 in Singapore.{{cite news |newspaper=The Business Times |url=http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/archive/sunday/lifestyle/entertainmentmusic/local-hip-hoppers-true-grit |title=Local hip-hopper's true grit |first=Christopher |last=Lim |date=13 July 2012 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903180132/http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/archive/sunday/lifestyle/entertainmentmusic/local-hip-hoppers-true-grit |archivedate=3 September 2014 |df=dmy-all }} He developed his interest in hip-hop music and rapping at the age of nine,{{cite news |url=http://www.feveravenue.com/lion-city’s-very-own-shigga-shay-releases-single-"let’s-roll"/ |newspaper=Fever Avenue |title=Lion City's Very Own Shiga Shay Releases Single "Let's Roll"! |first=Shereen |last=Ibrahim |date=14 October 2011}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} after his mother purchased him a few English hip hop records.{{cite news |url=http://www.sp.edu.sg/wps/portal/vp-spws/!ut/p/c0/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_hQD1NXIzdTEwMDYy8zA0__YLNgdycfQ1cTM_2CbEdFAKm2ADE!/?PC_7_UH5E2F540O6HD0IOEURNNRB714_WCM_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/Lib-SPWS/site-spwebsite/media/sp+in+the+news/watch+this+face+mum+got+him+rapping |title=Mom got him rapping |date=15 October 2011 |newspaper=The Straits Times |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029013342/http://www.sp.edu.sg/wps/portal/vp-spws/!ut/p/c0/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_hQD1NXIzdTEwMDYy8zA0__YLNgdycfQ1cTM_2CbEdFAKm2ADE!/?PC_7_UH5E2F540O6HD0IOEURNNRB714_WCM_CONTEXT=%2Fwps%2Fwcm%2Fconnect%2FLib-SPWS%2Fsite-spwebsite%2Fmedia%2Fsp+in+the+news%2Fwatch+this+face+mum+got+him+rapping |archivedate=29 October 2017 |df=dmy-all }} Pek's father died in 2009 of colon cancer.{{cite news |newspaper=Time Out |title=ShiGGa Shay: Taking the rap |date=14 November 2012 |first=Cassandra |last=Lee |url=http://www.timeoutsingapore.com/aroundtown/feature/shigga-shay-taking-the-rap |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120033324/http://www.timeoutsingapore.com/aroundtown/feature/shigga-shay-taking-the-rap |archivedate=20 November 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

His passion for music began at a young age, when he joined the Chinese Orchestra and began playing the dizi at Henry Park Primary School. He joined the Queensway Secondary School military band, where he played the trombone.{{Citation |title=This is rapper ShiGGa Shay's fifth NDP. Why does he do it? | date=7 August 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMNYWNM5WUE |access-date=2023-09-04 |language=en}} Following secondary school, he graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a diploma in media and communications.{{cite web |url=http://sp.edu.sg/wps/portal/vp-spws/!ut/p/c0/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_hQD1NXIzdTEwN_5zBzA09LHwsDXw9fg2Avc_2CbEdFACfTIhM!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/Lib-CASS/internet/news/make+way+for+shigga+shay |title=Make Way for Shigga Shay |publisher=Singapore Polytechnic |accessdate=28 April 2013 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903185339/http://sp.edu.sg/wps/portal/vp-spws/!ut/p/c0/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_hQD1NXIzdTEwN_5zBzA09LHwsDXw9fg2Avc_2CbEdFACfTIhM!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=%2Fwps%2Fwcm%2Fconnect%2FLib-CASS%2Finternet%2Fnews%2Fmake+way+for+shigga+shay |archivedate=3 September 2014 |df=dmy-all }}

ShiGGa Shay is an onomatopoeic play on the Chinese words, "是个谁" from "你是个谁," which translates to mean "who is it" or "who are you".{{cite web |url=https://mosg.tv/2019/07/24/rapper-shigga-shay-soft-spot-making-ma-proud/ |title=Shigga Shay |date=24 July 2019 |publisher=AgingYouth |accessdate=4 June 2020 }}

Shay made his national television debut on Live N Loaded on MediaCorp as a 16-year-old, which was one of his early public performances.{{cite web |url=http://www.powerofpop.com/poptv-shigga-shay/ |publisher=Power of Pop |title=PoPTV – Shigga Shay |date=14 October 2011 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035552/http://www.powerofpop.com/poptv-shigga-shay/ |archivedate=4 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }} He discussed how his initial appearance on public television inspired him to perform more in an interview with Mothership. He was approached by Dr. Sydney Tan, the National Day Parade's music director that year and Don Richmond when he was 17 years old, to take part in the parade for the first time. That same year, he released his mixtape ShiGGa Shay's in the Building (2010), and They Call Me ShiGGa (2012) was an album that dropped soon after. ShiGGa Shay's in the Building was reportedly recorded solely in Shigga's bedroom.{{cite web |url=http://www.noisesingapore.com/mentorship/music/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616095113/http://www.noisesingapore.com/mentorship/music/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 June 2013 |title=The Apprenticeship Programme 2011 |publisher=Noise Singapore |accessdate=28 April 2013}}

On 16 December 2012, ShiGGa was named the "Unsigned Talent of The Week" by WorldStarHipHop.{{cite web |url=http://m.worldstarhiphop.com/video.php?v=wshhbu2480DMC9Mm5bfm |publisher=WorldStarHipHop |date=16 December 2012 |title=Unsigned Talent of the Week: Shigga Shay (17 Year Old Rapper From Singapore) – On My Grind |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130616095138/http://m.worldstarhiphop.com/video.php?v=wshhbu2480DMC9Mm5bfm |archivedate=16 June 2013 |df=dmy-all }} ShiGGa is the "youngest hip-hop artist to have made it on the Singapore radio charts [...]", according to Aging Youth.

He released the English-Chinese-Hokkien rap song "LimPeh" (English: Your Dad) in June 2013, and it quickly rose to the top of the Singaporean charts. It features guest vocals from Tosh Rock and Wang Weiliang.{{cite news |url=http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/music/shigga-shay-tops-itunes-singapore-charts |last=Toh |first=Christopher |date=26 June 2013 |newspaper=Today |title=Shigga Shay tops iTunes Singapore charts |accessdate=4 July 2013}} The accompanying music video was one of the first from the local music industry to go viral.

During his two-year compulsory National Service, he was a member of the SAF Music & Drama Company (MDC).{{cite news |last1=Hadi |first1=Eddino |title=Rapper Shigga Shay is an unabashed Lion City kid |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/rapper-shigga-shay-is-an-unabashed-lion-city-kid |accessdate=4 November 2015 |work=The Straits Times |date=15 September 2014 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105712/http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/rapper-shigga-shay-is-an-unabashed-lion-city-kid |archivedate=4 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }} In his interview with COLORSxSTUDIOS, Shay shared how his experience in MDC sharpened him as he became more familiar with performing on stage. He was given the opportunity to host, rap, act and dance - performing over 600 shows in different army camps.{{Cite web |title=ShiGGa Shay Interview |url=https://colorsxstudios.com/shows/shigga-shay-interview |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=COLORSxSTUDIOS |language=en}} He said in an interview with The Straits Times, "Before MDC, I was just a rapper but my time there made me an all-round performer,"

During this time he performed for the Ah Boys to Men musical, Rockhampton and the MDC 40th anniversary alongside other MDC alumni: Jack Neo, Dick Lee, JJ Lin, Jeremy Monterio and more.{{cite news |last1=Koh |first1=Eng Beng |title=Concert salutes NSmen, celebrates 40 years of MDC |url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/resourcelibrary/cyberpioneer/topics/articles/news/2013/nov/21nov13_news.print.noimg.m.html |accessdate=4 November 2015 |publisher=Cyber Pioneer |date=28 November 2013 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061532/http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/resourcelibrary/cyberpioneer/topics/articles/news/2013/nov/21nov13_news.print.noimg.m.html |archivedate=4 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }} In the years that followed, he released several singles, Lion City Kia (2014), ShiGGa Morning (2015) and the official theme song for 3688, Tapau (2015).

In 2015 Shay released his first full-length self-titled album.{{cite news |last1=Hon |first1=Jing Yi |date=21 August 2015 |title=ShiGGa Shay celebrates debut album release with private party |work=Today |url=http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/shigga-shay-celebrates-debut-album-release-private-party |url-status=live |accessdate=4 November 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150824061345/http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/shigga-shay-celebrates-debut-album-release-private-party |archivedate=24 August 2015 |df=dmy-all}} In 2015, he was part of Sing50 concert and performed in the hip-hop segment with Apl.de.ap from the Black Eyed Peas.{{cite news |last1=Abdul Hadi |first1=Eddino |title=Stefanie Sun, JJ Lin, Lang Lang and Rahimah Rahim among stars to join Sing50 concert on Aug 7 |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/stefanie-sun-jj-lin-lang-lang-and-rahimah-rahim-among-stars-to-join-sing50 |accessdate=4 November 2015 |work=The Straits Times |date=25 April 2015 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116174341/http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/stefanie-sun-jj-lin-lang-lang-and-rahimah-rahim-among-stars-to-join-sing50 |archivedate=16 November 2015 |df=dmy-all }} During that year he also collaborated with Dick Lee during this performance. He was also part of the SG50 album, "Sing, Love", where he collaborated with Stefanie Sun in a duet titled "Simply Love" which they also performed live during the albums showcase.{{cite news |last1=Toh |first1=Christopher |title=Final song for SG50 album released |url=http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/music/final-song-sg50-album-released |accessdate=4 November 2015 |work=Today |date=26 June 2015 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626133850/http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/music/final-song-sg50-album-released |archivedate=26 June 2015 |df=dmy-all }} In 2017, Shay was also featured on Stefanie Sun's album on the song "Levitate (漂浮群岛)".

In August 2016, Shay performed at the White House state dinner after-party. He was invited to perform by the US Ambassador to Singapore, Kirk Wagar.{{Cite news |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/proud-to-be-singaporean-say-musicians-shigga-shay-and-tabitha-nauser-after-performing-at |title=Proud to be Singaporean, say musicians Shigga Shay and Tabitha Nauser after performing at White House State Dinner after-party |last=|date=5 August 2016 |newspaper=The Straits Times |access-date=16 January 2017 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114051833/http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/proud-to-be-singaporean-say-musicians-shigga-shay-and-tabitha-nauser-after-performing-at |archivedate=14 November 2016 |df=dmy-all }}

Recognised for his stage presence and talent, Shay has opened for esteemed hip-hop legends, including Wu-Tang Clan, and shared the stage with cultural influencer Jaden Smith during the Singapore leg of his World Tour. He has performed at several prominent events including Singapore's National Day Parade, performing on five different years, Singapore Day, Ultra Singapore, and the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix Concert.

In 2020, he dropped a 12-track mixtape, S$.

Shay has also experienced considerable commercial success on an international scale. In 2021, he released 'uRight', a transformative collaboration with Korean-American rapper Jay Park.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Daniel |date=2021-02-26 |title=Watch ShiGGa Shay and Jay Park's music video for new single 'uRight' |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/shigga-shay-announces-new-single-with-jay-park-uright-2882296 |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=NME |language=en}} This release coincided with his inaugural collaboration with Hugo Boss, where he curated a capsule collection exclusively available in Singapore.

In 2022, he released an EP titled I AM U. The 5-track EP features previously released singles in "uRight" which notably features South Korean rapper Jay Park. 'Mercury' featuring Taiwanese-American rapper ØZI, 'Birthday', 'uKnow' and 'Passive Aggressive'. The track 'Mercury' was produced by London-based producer JB Made It, who has production credits for Drake, Fivo Foreign, and Chief Keef.{{Cite web |first=Sabiq |last=Rafid |date=2022-04-22 |title=ShiGGa Shay debuts new collaboration-heavy EP, 'I AM U' |url=https://hear65.bandwagon.asia/articles/shigga-shay-debuts-brand-new-ep-i-am-u |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=Hear65 |via=Bandwagon.asia |language=en}}

In April 2023, he became the first Singaporean artist to grace the stage of COLORSxSTUDIOS and was also the first to perform a song in both Mandarin and Hokkien.

In that same month, Shay was featured in "Gummy Yummy", a multilingual single released by Thai Rapper, F.Hero. It also features Thai artist JV.Jarvis and Japan's JP The Wavy.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-28 |title=F.HERO, JV.JARVIS, ShiGGa Shay, and JP THE WAVY team up for sunny summer single 'GUMMY YUMMY' — watch |url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/f-hero-jv-jarvis-shigga-shay-and-jp-the-wavy-team-up-for-sunny-summer-single-gummy-yummy-high-cloud-entertainment-hip-hop-new-release-2023-watch |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=F.HERO, JV.JARVIS, ShiGGa Shay, and JP THE WAVY team up for sunny summer single 'GUMMY YUMMY' — watch {{!}} Bandwagon {{!}} Music media championing and spotlighting music in Asia. |language=en}}

In June 2023, he was invited to perform as a special guest alongside rapper E.SO on "The Rap Of China", which stands as one of China's most popular variety show produced by iQiyi. On that episode, the duo debuted their single "BO BEH ZAO" (Hokkien for "No Horse Run" 没⻢跑). He participated in the next season of the show in 2024 as a competitor.{{Cite web |title=Singaporean hip-hop artiste Shigga Shay joins new season of Chinese reality series The Rap Of China |url=https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/shigga-shay-rap-china-390291 |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=CNA Lifestyle |language=en}}

Shay's upbringing in Singapore and his reflections of his environment form the basis of his creative output. This is shown in the multilingualism and colloquialism frequently used in his songs. The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z and Nas are among the musicians he cites as influences.{{cite web |url=http://www.esplanade.com.sg/whats_on/programme_info/yfest11_shigga_shay/index.jsp |title=ShiGGa Shay |accessdate=28 April 2013 |publisher=Esplanade: Theatres by the Bay |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180608191032/http://www.esplanade.com.sg/whats_on/programme_info/yfest11_shigga_shay/index.jsp |archivedate=8 June 2018 |df=dmy-all }}

Through his production company, Grizzle Films, ShiGGa Shay not only directs his own music videos but also directed multiple music videos such as the Starhub Chinese New year Commercial 2014 "Wang Ah!"{{cite web |title=StarHub CNY 2014 旺Ah! Extended Cut [Featuring Shigga Shay and The Lion Men] | date=29 January 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86H_vY-2nZI |via=YouTube |publisher=StarHub |accessdate=4 November 2015 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318051000/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86H_vY-2nZI |archivedate=18 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }} as well as the Singapore version of the Durex-MTV global sex-ed campaign "Somebody like me" that featured The Sam Willows. He also directed the music video for the song 我们的故事 of Jack Neo's movie, The Lion Men.{{cite web |title=我们的故事 MV (Tosh / Weiliang / Bunz) "The Lion Men" Official Theme Song | date=23 January 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjEaTWQ29uo |via=YouTube |publisher=JTV |accessdate=4 November 2015 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823233957/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjEaTWQ29uo |archivedate=23 August 2015 |df=dmy-all }}

In 2023, Shay directed the music video for the theme song of NDP 2023, "Shine Your Light" which he co-wrote the lyrics with Don Richmond.{{Cite web |title=Theme Song |url=https://ndp.gov.sg/about/theme-song/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=ndp.gov.sg |language=en}}

Shay holds the distinction of being the sole Asian music artist selected for HUGO's 2021 global music campaign, HUGO Louder, joining esteemed artists such as Rejjie Snow, Amelie Lens and MØ.{{Cite web |title=ShiGGa Shay for #HUGOLouder |url=https://www.sleek-mag.com/article/shigga-shay-for-hugo-louder/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=www.sleek-mag.com |language=en}}

In 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, he became the first Southeast Asian artist to host a live streaming Mixed Reality concert. The concert was broadcast on cable TV via TechStorm in Asia.{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Surej |date=2020-09-08 |title=ShiGGa Shay announces "mixed reality" virtual concert to launch EP |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/shigga-shay-announces-mixed-reality-virtual-concert-to-launch-ep-2747787 |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=NME |language=en}}

In April 2022 Shay become the first Southeast Asian music artist to sell out his genesis Non-Fungible Token (NFT) within a span of four minutes, marking his entry into the Web 3.0 space.{{Cite news |first=Eddino Abdul |last=Hadi |date=2022-04-14 |title=Singapore rapper Shigga Shay sells out 999 NFTs within 4 minutes |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/singapore-rapper-shigga-shay-sells-out-999-nfts-within-4-minutes |access-date=2023-09-04 |issn=0585-3923}}

In 2023, Shay performed at the opening ceremony of The International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s first Olympic Esports Week Singapore 2023.{{Cite news |last=Kwek |first=Kimberly |date=2023-06-22 |title=Inaugural Olympic Esports Week declared open |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/inaugural-olympic-esports-week-declared-open |access-date=2023-09-04 |issn=0585-3923}}

{{Portal|Singapore|Biography}}

• Sylvia Ratonel
• Inch Chua
• The Sam Willows
• Gentle Bones
• Tabitha Nauser
• Jay Park

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://shiggashay.com/}}
• {{YouTube|u=ShiGGaShay|{{PAGENAMEBASE}}}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shay, Shigga}}

Category:1992 births

Category:Singaporean musicians

Category:Living people

Category:Singaporean hip-hop musicians

Category:Singaporean people of Chinese descent

Category:Singapore Polytechnic alumni