Word: rapping
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...four years is the pop-cultural equivalent of a geologic Age, particularly in the fickle hip-hop world. Then again, Very Necessary, with its two top-five singles in "Shoop" and "Whatta Man", was itself an unexpected success after the group's three-year absence from the spotlight. No rap artists have endured and developed as steadily and brilliantly as Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandy "Pepa" Denton. Just ask Run-DMC and Big Daddy Kane, if you can find them...
Salt 'N' Pepa are, L.L. Cool J excepted, the only working rappers who were prominent, even crucial, within rap's original rise to prominence. As such, they actually belong to the legacy of grooves, modes, and old-school stylings that upstarts like Puff Daddy are tripping over themselves to sample. If nothing on Brand New is as beguilingly woven or as, well, brand new as the best B.I.G. or the slinkiest Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot, almost every song is imbued with Salt 'N' Pepa's inimitable and hard-earned funky charisma...
With a funky mix of dance hall reggae and sugar pop, Mr. Boombastic (a.k.a. Shaggy) is back with a new CD, Midnite Lover. Shaggy has taken the concept of Jamaican reggae to another level by mixing heavily constructed R&B, rap and heavy bass beats. Radio D.J.'s love to play it, the kids on the street try to imitate it and the club floors pound with Shaggy's honey-coated voice. Midnite Lover does not stray from the typical Shaggy tradition; it works because it is Shaggy, rather than just another Jamaican reggae artist who is attempting to capitalize...
...next track is "Perfect Song" featuring Maxi Priest. This is arguably one of most danceable songs on the CD. In blaringly typical Jammin' 94.5 form, the tune manages to combine elements of rap (yikes!), stylized, manufactured background beats and Maxi Priest, doing what he does best--crooning to the ladies. It is the type of melody that one's 13-year-old sister will definitively memorize and manage to sing along to every time (and that will be every five minutes) it is played. "Perfect Song" will be played at every party because it will definitely keep one booty-shaking...
...fans to those who occasionally appreciate an obscure reggae track. No doubt, people are in for a complete surprise with this song. It gives Shaggy credibility as a real reggae artist even if the rest of Midnite Lover delves heavily into the seemingly unfamiliar realms or hip-hop and rap...