Rating: NNNN
There’s never been anything basic about Beenie Man’s charisma, boldness and lyricism, but ever since 1998 saw his song Who Am I blow up in the U.S., something has been lost in the crossover translation he’s maintained through collaborations with Janet Jackson, the Neptunes and Mya. So he had to bring it back to dancehall basics for his latest banger. The result is an unrefined club record with dutty synth punches and drums that drop like elephant hoofs. Beenie sounds comfy trying out new things over basic production, but he’s still nasty as ever on the one big-name pop reach, the Timbaland-crafted All Girls Party.
