Five Best Songs From Shaggy’s ‘Hot Shot’ Album

Shaggy gifts listeners with an inspirational song with "Keep'n It Real." Co-produced by Shaggy, Shaun "Sting" Pizzonia, and Gordon Dukes, the track is powered by light drums, keys, and handclaps and effectively showcases Shaggy's infectious vocal tone. "When I was young, I used to dream of being rich / Have a lot of houses and cars, couldn't know which one was which / And finding me a chick and getting hitched / Living the fairy-tale life, perfect without a glitch," he recalls. Overall, Shaggy reflects on a time when he thought financial gain was what life was about, only to find out that the simplest things in life generate the most happiness in your life and tough times don't last but tough people do.

The story behind "Luv Me, Luv Me" is an interesting one. Originally recorded as a collaboration between Shaggy and Janet Jackson for the soundtrack to the 1998 film, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Shaggy requested the song for his album but Jackson's record label, Virgin, refused. This forced Shaggy to re-record a whole new version with dance-pop singer songwriter Samantha Cole in place of Jackson's vocals. While Shaggy called working with Ms. Jackson and her team "the worst experience of his musical career," the revamped version was a success internationally and further boosting Hot Shot's impressive sales.

The album's title track is a reggae-dipped banger that is sure to induce a whine from the most prude rude gal. Shaggy delivers oodles of slick talk all over the beat. "They call me Mr. (Hot Shot), baby, can I do my thing / (Don't Stop) girl, I like the vibe you bring / (Mama) open up and let me in / We can do most anything, tell me do you like to swing," he raps on the hook. The song may not have gotten the fanfare of other tunes on the album, but will get any party started right.

Shaggy had experienced platinum success before with his 1995 LP, Boombastic, but his career would reach heights few could've predicted with the release of his fifth studio album, Hot Shot. Mr. Lover garnered a hit with the fan-favorite, "Angel." Featuring longtime collaborator Rayvon on the guest vocals, the two entertainers make magic and crafted a perfect ballad. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, giving Shaggy another chart-topper to add to his name and a classic song for the listeners to enjoy.

Shaggy's philandering single, "It Wasn't Me," produced by Shaun "Sting" Pizzonia, was one of the more plush efforts on Hot Shot and employed live instrumentation, including guitars, keys and violins. Featuring vocals from RikRok, whom also helped write the track alongside Shaggy, Braun Thompson and Pizzonia, he turned in an unforgettable performance on the hook and the bridge. "It Wasn't Me" was a monster hit domestically and internationally, making Shaggy was one of the biggest winners of 2000.