Eminence

With hit singles like “Who Am I (Sim Simma)” and “Dude”, Beenie Man helped bring dancehall vibes to the world in the ’90s and 2000s. Notably, the deejay’s collaborations with artists both within and beyond Jamaica elevated his profile in hip-hop, R&B and pop music spaces. On Eminence, he repeatedly plays off this particular aspect of his artistic reputation by linking with guests like Rick Ross, T.I. and Ashanti. From the juicy opening interpolation “305/876” to the reverent finale, “Heavenly Father”, he applies his well-honed reggae skillset across a variety of styles. A reunion with his “Girls Dem Sugar” partner Mýa, “Don’t Rush” nods overtly to a sultry Janet Jackson smash as the two groove in tandem with help from Kingston’s own Kemar McGregor. On tracks like “Kingsteppa” and “Made for Love”, he seems to revel in upending listeners’ presumed familiarity with his unapologetic inspirations. Our Favourite Track: He amasses a global selection of vocalists—including Elephant Man, Snoop Dogg and Stefflon Don—for the action-packed “For You”.