Shaggy - Hot Shot

In 1993, when Shaggy successfully reworked the Prince Buster ska classic "Oh Carolina," he was on the cusp of creating a hot, new ska/pop fusion. Unfortunately, he opted to become a pop-reggae novelty act like Snow. Shaggy's fourth album certainly won't win over new fans or appeal to reggae purists and Capleton enthusiasts, but that's fine by him. While there are no immediate club anthems in the "Boombastic" or "Oh Carolina" vein, Shaggy's coarse vocal delivery shines on the sweet, Latin-music-inspired "Chica Bonita." Likewise, "Not Fair"--where he boasts that he'll take a woman "to the clouds without going downtown"--has Hit Single written all over it. On the downside, Shaggy's rap-reggae flow doesn't match the production values of the R&B production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. On "Lonely Lover," Shaggy and Next's T-Lo bastardize a classic Main Ingredient song, while on "Dance and Shout," he distorts the Michael Jackson legacy by sampling "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)." --Dalton Higgins