Sean Paul plans to keep making music for as long as possible. At 51, the Jamaican dancehall legend declared at London’s Wireless Festival that retirement isn’t in his future. “No, man, me nah retire ’til me dead like a tire. Trust me now, man,” Paul told NME. “It gets harder. It do get harder as someone who’s growing older.”
Paul, known for hits like “Temperature,” shared how performing keeps him youthful. “I read a little thing yesterday that said if you attend two concerts or two festivals every month, you’re going to gain nine years on your life, so I’mma live forever! You know what I mean?”
Sean Paul’s Passion for Festivals
Paul expressed his deep love for entertaining, especially at festivals. “This is a synergy and a gathering of people, of like-minded people who want to just party and have fun,” he said. “Big up to everybody who attends the festivals with vigor every year, and big up to everybody who puts on these festivals. It’s awesome.”
He added a philosophical touch, stating, “To me, music is a thing that helps you evolve, and it helps to keep you young at the same time, so that’s omnipotent. That’s like God, so big up, God, and big up, music.”
Busy Schedule
Sean Paul’s schedule remains packed. After finishing international festival sets, he will perform across Canada in August and September. His latest album, “Scorcha,” came out in 2022, and he continues releasing singles and collaborations. In June, he dropped “Light ‘Em Up” with Will Smith for the “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” soundtrack.
Paul’s influence extends beyond his own releases. Ice Spice’s recent single, “Gimme a Light,” samples his 2001 hit “Gimme the Light.” Paul approved the sample, saying, “They slowed it down a little bit, but her career is so hot right now and I was like, ‘Yo, that’s dope.’”
Paul also praised Ice Spice’s performance at Wireless Festival. “She’s a great artist. She’s out there performing tonight. Everybody was screaming. So I feel good about the vibe. Big up to Ice. Big up to everybody who loves dancehall and reggae culture and who may want a sample or use it or whatever.”