Veteran artists such as Shaggy are in a difficult spot. Having peaked in the late '90s and early '00s — and using "peaked" in a most respectful and nonjudgmental manner — new output will invariably be shunted into an increased unfortunate lens. Hardcore fans know that Shaggy is still a capable artist, while casuals are skipping tracks searching for reworked versions of 2000's "It Wasn't Me."
Wah Gwaan? takes stock of an artist in a seemingly no-win situation. While competently produced and orchestrated, there's a listless energy hanging over the project. It's fodder for the nostalgia circuit, and fleshes out an already extensive back catalogue. "When She Loves Me" is a chill love-you-up number that's adequate, while "Wrong Room" feels like a '90s track through and through, yet succeeds on its intentional earnestness: "If you're the smartest person in that room, you're in the wrong room."
"Supernatural," featuring Stacy Barthe, finds its feet in a EDM-meets-dancehall stance. Shaggy asks Wah Gwaan? — "what's going on?" for the patois challenged— and the answer is, Shaggy's doing just fine, thanks for asking. He'll always be remembered for "It Wasn't Me," "Boombastic" and to a lesser extent "Oh Carolina." This album doesn't move the needle but Shaggy is in cruise control at the point, so it's all good.
(300)Wah Gwaan? takes stock of an artist in a seemingly no-win situation. While competently produced and orchestrated, there's a listless energy hanging over the project. It's fodder for the nostalgia circuit, and fleshes out an already extensive back catalogue. "When She Loves Me" is a chill love-you-up number that's adequate, while "Wrong Room" feels like a '90s track through and through, yet succeeds on its intentional earnestness: "If you're the smartest person in that room, you're in the wrong room."
"Supernatural," featuring Stacy Barthe, finds its feet in a EDM-meets-dancehall stance. Shaggy asks Wah Gwaan? — "what's going on?" for the patois challenged— and the answer is, Shaggy's doing just fine, thanks for asking. He'll always be remembered for "It Wasn't Me," "Boombastic" and to a lesser extent "Oh Carolina." This album doesn't move the needle but Shaggy is in cruise control at the point, so it's all good.
