Shigga Shay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jin Pek
Image Courtesy of John15 Photography
Background information
Birth name	Pek Jin Shen 白敬生
Born	(1992-09-12) 12 September 1992 (age 32) Singapore
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter producer director

Pek Jin Shen (born 12 September 1992) is a Singaporean hip hop artist, songwriter, and music producer. He is better known by his stage name ShiGGa Shay. His name is often written with two capital "G"s, which stand for "Grizzle Grind," the name of his hip hop group.

ShiGGa Shay is one of the most famous people in Singapore's music world. He has had many big successes in his career. When he was 17, the popular website WorldStarHipHop called him the "Unsigned Talent of The Week." He has also had many songs reach #1 on the iTunes charts in Singapore. One of his biggest honors was performing at a White House afterparty in Washington, D.C.

In 2023, ShiGGa Shay made history. He was the first Singaporean artist to perform on the famous music platform COLORSxSTUDIOS. He was also the first to perform a song in both Mandarin and Hokkien on the show. That same year, he was a special guest on the popular TV show "The Rap of China".

Besides his solo work, ShiGGa Shay is a founder of the hip hop group Grizzle Grind Crew and the production company Grizzle Films.

Early Life and School Days

Pek Jin Shen was born in Singapore on September 12, 1992. He became interested in hip-hop music and rapping when he was only nine years old. His mother bought him some American hip-hop albums, which sparked his passion. His father passed away in 2009.

His love for music started early. In primary school, he joined the Chinese Orchestra and learned to play the dizi, a type of Chinese flute. Later, in secondary school, he joined the military band and played the trombone. After finishing school, he studied media and communications at Singapore Polytechnic.

Music Career

2010s: Getting Started and Making a Mark

The name ShiGGa Shay is a fun play on the Chinese words "是个谁" (shì gè shéi). This phrase means "who is it?" or "who are you?"

ShiGGa Shay first appeared on national television when he was 16 years old. He performed on a Mediacorp show called Live N Loaded. He later said this experience made him want to perform more. At 17, he was asked to be part of Singapore's National Day Parade.

He released his first mixtape, ShiGGa Shay's in the Building, in 2010. He recorded it all in his bedroom. Soon after, he released an album called They Call Me ShiGGa (2012).

In 2013, he released a rap song called "LimPeh," which means "Your Dad" in the Hokkien dialect. The song was a mix of English, Chinese, and Hokkien. It became a huge hit and went to the top of the charts in Singapore. The music video for the song was one of the first from a local artist to go viral online.

Like many Singaporean men, ShiGGa Shay served in the National Service for two years. He was part of the SAF Music & Drama Company (MDC). He said this experience helped him become a better performer. He got to host, rap, act, and dance in over 600 shows.

During the 2010s, he performed with many famous artists. He opened for the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. He also performed with Apl.de.ap from the Black Eyed Peas and the Singaporean pop star Stefanie Sun. In 2016, he had the amazing opportunity to perform at a White House after-party in the United States.

2020–2022: New Music and Big Projects

In 2020, ShiGGa Shay released a mixtape called S$. The next year, he worked with the famous Korean-American rapper Jay Park on a song called 'uRight'. Around the same time, he worked with the fashion brand Hugo Boss to create a special clothing collection just for Singapore.

In 2022, he released a 5-song EP called I AM U. One of the songs, 'Mercury', was produced by JB Made It, who has also worked with huge international stars like Drake.

2023–Present: Gaining Worldwide Attention

In April 2023, ShiGGa Shay became the first Singaporean artist to be featured on COLORSxSTUDIOS, a popular YouTube channel that showcases talented musicians from around the world.

A few months later, he was invited as a special guest on "The Rap of China". This is one of the biggest TV shows in China. He performed a new song with the rapper E.SO. In 2024, he returned to the show, this time as a competitor.

His Unique Style

ShiGGa Shay's music is heavily influenced by his life in Singapore. He often mixes different languages in his songs, like English, Mandarin, and Hokkien. This makes his music unique and relatable to many people in his home country.

Some of his biggest musical heroes include famous rappers like The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Eminem, and Jay-Z.

More Than Just Music

ShiGGa Shay is also a talented director. Through his company, Grizzle Films, he directs his own music videos. He has also directed videos for other artists and companies. In 2023, he co-wrote and directed the music video for "Shine Your Light," the theme song for Singapore's National Day Parade.

He has also explored new technology. In 2022, he became the first musician in Southeast Asia to release an NFT (Non-Fungible Token). An NFT is a unique digital item that people can own. His first NFT collection sold out in just four minutes.

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

Filmography

Movies

See also

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