''Intoxication'' is the eighth studio album released by Jamaican rapper

Shaggy Shaggy may refer to: People *Shaggy (musician) (born 1968), Jamaican American reggae rapper and singer * Shaggy 2 Dope, half of the hip hop, horrorcore band Insane Clown Posse * Shaggy Flores (born 1973), Nuyorican poet, writer and African diaspor ...

. The album was released on October 22, 2007, to critical acclaim, but without major chart success. The album was re-issued in September 2008 to include additional tracks, remixes and music videos. Four singles were released from the album: " Church Heathen", " Bonafide Girl", which features guest vocals from Rikrok and Tony Gold, "Feel the Rush", the official single for

Euro 2008 The 2008 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2008 or simply Euro 2008, was the 13th UEFA European Championship, a quadrennial football tournament contested by the member nations of UEFA (the Union of European ...

(which only appears on the subsequent re-issue of the album) and " What's Love", featuring R&B singer

Akon Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam (; born April 16, 1973), known mononymously as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of " Locked Up" (featuring Styles P) ...

Critical reception

David Jeffries of

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

said the following of the album: "Shaggy's last effort, ''

Clothes Drop ''Clothes Drop'' is the seventh studio album released by Jamaican singer Shaggy. It was released by Geffen Records on September 2, 2005. When the album was released promotionally in 2004, it was debated that the album would not be commercially rel ...

'', was widely ignored in the States and only semi-accepted in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

and

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

. In Jamaica and Japan, however, the album had serious legs, carrying the dancehall singer's career all the way to August 22, and the release of the "Church Heathen" single. Seeing as how his most supportive territories were Jamaica—the home of it all—and Japan—where they'll take their dancehall straight, no R&B chaser required—it made perfect sense for Shaggy to deliver a JA flavored tune featuring Jamaican Patois and references for the dancehall literate. That tune, "Church Heathen," took the dancehall world by storm, re-established the singer's footing in Britain, and began to make an impact in the States towards the end of the year That the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

would even pay attention is the biggest surprise since insider lyrics like "She a do the dutty dance to the Matterhorn song, And a say she get the ting them from Baby Cham" are hardly the stuff of "

It Wasn't Me "It Wasn't Me" is the first single from Jamaican-American reggae musician Shaggy's fifth studio album, '' Hot Shot'' (2000). The song features vocals from RikRok (credited as Rickardo "RikRok" Ducent). The lyrics of the song depict one man (Rik ...

" or even his breakthrough hit "

Oh Carolina "Oh Carolina" is a 1958 song by the Folkes Brothers, produced by Prince Buster and released in 1960, after which it became an early ska hit. It was covered by many various artists, including Shaggy in 1993. Folkes Brothers version The original v ...

". Still, the single has a riddim that's infectious, a Gregorian chant inspired chorus that's very clever, plus Shaggy in top form, pointing out all the pious church-goers he deals with back home with his usual crafty slang and humor. While the album - his worldwide comeback hit - lands on isn't totally without its crossover material, with "What's Love" with

being the best example—Shaggy is more discerning than ever and makes sure the radio-friendly material is right in line with his skill set. The breezy "Bonafide Girl" with Rik Rok brings welcome reminders of their "It Wasn't Me" interplay, and while "Out of Control" could have come straight from the house of

Jermaine Dupri Jermaine Dupri Mauldin (born September 23, 1972) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, record executive, entrepreneur, and DJ. Early life Jermaine Dupri Mauldin was born on September 23, 1972, the son of Tina (Mosley) and Michael ...

, it's R&B-meets-dancehall stance feels natural, not forced. Even better are the tracks that fall firmly in the dancehall category. Besides the glorious "Heathen" there's the opening "Can't Hold Me," which finds the gruff vocalist working his quick delivery over a wonderfully crooked ragga beat. Conscious reggae, Sizzla, Shaggy, and Collie Buddz all make "Mad Mad World" a standout while "Wear di Crown" with Mischieve boldly declares itself "Big Yard Music" at the start and then delivers. With ''Intoxication'', Shaggy has once again found that perfect balance of slick and streetwise, and added career-defining single number three as the cherry on top."

Track listing

Charts

References

{{Authority control 2007 albums Shaggy (musician) albums VP Records albums