Can we all just rejoice at this fact please? I say fact cos it isn't mere opinion. Also, I'd like to say it's an achievement in itself that he's still popular after 10 years since bursting into the mainstream that wonderful 2003. 10 years ago he was nominated for best newcomer at the Grammy's alongside Heather Headley (last I heard she was in theatre), Fountains of Wayne (WHO?), 50 Cent (who cares anymore? recently split from label), and winners Evanescence (where are they now?). So big him up for that. 1st Jamaican-born, third reggae(ish) (Musical Youth and Ace of Base before (do they count?) Maybe fourth if you count Culture Club too. They won it in 1984.)
Hoowwwwever, if you were thinking about buying Full Frequency - in short, do so at your own risk! Maybe I shouldn't say that. Let me rephrase: please don't listen to it if you have a high respect for Sean Paul's music + good taste because it will taint your opinion of him and his music. And I'd rather you not do that to yourself or him. It's easily one of the worst albums I have heard this year for so many reasons; it's lazy and strays too far from not only good dancehall music, but from good music. It's easily the worst album of his discography (big word!). Easily. I can't complain enough about how bad it is. The producers are rubbish and most of the features are worse. I want to have a word with whoever advised it.
I mean, someone thought this was a good idea? Well, the Konshens feature was. But the rest of thing as a whole? I can't even bring myself to call it a song. It's a thing that (barely) exists.
And as if you didn't like Juicy J that much, the last person you want to hear on the same song is 2 Chainz! And I'm partial to Nicki Minaj sometimes, but not this Nicki Minaj. See, this is a "Let's make something for US urban radio spins. Sean isn't hot with them anymore so let's get every rapper who does the most features for the right price." Throw that together with an abomination of EDM and you have a song that's definitely shitter than my description makes it sound.
I suspect it wasn't his fault though. Looking back, the writing was on the wall when his third major label sponsored album, Imperial Blaze, failed to match success of the previous two. It also marked the change in strategy; he went from trusted dancehall riddims to creating things on his own and aiming for a mainstream audience who were interested in Lady Gaga type artists.
Follow-up, Tomahawk Technique, saw him step away from Jamaican producers for the first time, probably because the label had more say in the making of the product (aka "Why don't you go in with [insert proven pop chart hit-makers]?"), but part of me thinks Sean wanted to branch out (check the video below). I'm not gonna lie, the album wasn't terrible for what it was. It had quite a few bangers including smash-hit "She Doesn't Mind". Album still under performed (did well in certain territories I believe) so they put him back in with pop producers but couldn't attract the names they did the first time (smaller budget? People didn't want to be associated with an artist not pulling in numbers?) and it definitely sounds like it.
At this point, I'd usually tell you about a song I liked on there. This won't happen today. Actually, the first single "Other Side of Love" is listenable. Good song lyrically, but beat is a rehash. Benny Blanco got the big hit on the previous and here too. The rest is incredibly bad. However, if maths serve me correctly this was his last album on Atlantic.
But on a positive, he has putting in some work as a featured artist on some quality/better songs and a non-album single. All of which have been a million and forty times better than his album. I recommend you get stuck into these instead. Had this been the work he was doing last year, life would've been a bit better for this album I reckon. Let us raise our heads and pray the label doesn't get involved (at all) with the creativity again so we can get the proper good Sean Paul back.
No this The Saturday's song isn't good, but its an example of an electro song better than his album. And he got a #1. Then he got a #7 in the same year with "Other Side of Love" yet no album dropped until he was cold. My money's on the label's American side messing up the base (or maybe the album wasn't ready). A EU released album would've capitalised on his success. In the end, it was dropped into a vacuum of space.
First up is a nice and easy reggaeton song for the ladies hips with a top reggaeton artist called Farruko produced by Jamaican producer Rvssian. Those of you familiar with SP's rise to fame will know the Hispanics embraced "Gimme The Light" helping him turn into the star he became. He catered to them on Tomahawk Technique (both "Got 2 Luv U" and "She Doesn't Mind" are very close to where reggaeton is now), lacked that factor on most recent.
Next up is Enrique Iglesias (yes, the lucky bugger who still goes out with Anna Kournikova) recruited Mr Sean Paul for the Spanglish version of current smash-hit Bailando ("dancing" en Ingles.)
So you've got the Hispanics on board. Who else will make Marvin a happy guy? Africans!
Timaya's "Bum Bum" was one of my favourite afrobeats songs last year. Ok, so Machel Montano's remix is a lot catchier, but hey, it's better than anything on Full Frequency.
Not just one song, there's two. UK's very own Ghanian, who's currently on a spree of chart hits, only went and bagged an SP feature. This is better than the above. Not gonna say much on this because I have another post lined up for this. Listen below. (And pre-order please)
Last but by no means least, the crossover-"EDM" crowd is sorted with this Major Lazer feature. Similar to last year's Busy Signal-assisted "Watch Out For This (Bumaye)" with the moombahton/electro-reggaeton/dancehall vibe (and we know reggaeton is heavily influenced by dancehall/Poco Man Jam riddim).
To me, this is what Sean Paul should and hopefully wants to do. Not too much of this EDM stuff. I can tell the features are just him and management choosing what's right as opposed to falling victims to major label pie charts and graphs. I could've helped him make a much better album than what he produced. There were enough Jamaican riddims for him to touch. I would've hooked him up with people like Rudimental and other UK producers too to give him bangers. Got man like Kill Beatz and it's orn end poppin' san. Why didn't he link with Rvssian for his album? Anju Blaxx? C'mon. Popcaan feature? Denyque? Get Di Genius to give him some dancehall?
So yeah, if you don't like anything Sean Paul has done in the past few years, I hope/reckon you'll like at least 3 of the above 5. And please, preserve your mind of good Sean Paul. Get Full Frequency at your own risk innit. That's your "Marvin's Advisory" e-sticker.
Other features:
There's this with a Haitian artist, this with Wisin (of Wisin y Yandel fame) and this solo song which is awesome, produced Rvssian (again), on the Rvssian riddim, which sounds like another Hispanic-friendly riddim. Vintage Sean Paul on form here. Not as good as but definitely close to the levels of the peak. And his best dancehall song since "Turn Me On" on Smokin riddim.
Hoowwwwever, if you were thinking about buying Full Frequency - in short, do so at your own risk! Maybe I shouldn't say that. Let me rephrase: please don't listen to it if you have a high respect for Sean Paul's music + good taste because it will taint your opinion of him and his music. And I'd rather you not do that to yourself or him. It's easily one of the worst albums I have heard this year for so many reasons; it's lazy and strays too far from not only good dancehall music, but from good music. It's easily the worst album of his discography (big word!). Easily. I can't complain enough about how bad it is. The producers are rubbish and most of the features are worse. I want to have a word with whoever advised it.
I mean, someone thought this was a good idea? Well, the Konshens feature was. But the rest of thing as a whole? I can't even bring myself to call it a song. It's a thing that (barely) exists.
And as if you didn't like Juicy J that much, the last person you want to hear on the same song is 2 Chainz! And I'm partial to Nicki Minaj sometimes, but not this Nicki Minaj. See, this is a "Let's make something for US urban radio spins. Sean isn't hot with them anymore so let's get every rapper who does the most features for the right price." Throw that together with an abomination of EDM and you have a song that's definitely shitter than my description makes it sound.
I suspect it wasn't his fault though. Looking back, the writing was on the wall when his third major label sponsored album, Imperial Blaze, failed to match success of the previous two. It also marked the change in strategy; he went from trusted dancehall riddims to creating things on his own and aiming for a mainstream audience who were interested in Lady Gaga type artists.
Follow-up, Tomahawk Technique, saw him step away from Jamaican producers for the first time, probably because the label had more say in the making of the product (aka "Why don't you go in with [insert proven pop chart hit-makers]?"), but part of me thinks Sean wanted to branch out (check the video below). I'm not gonna lie, the album wasn't terrible for what it was. It had quite a few bangers including smash-hit "She Doesn't Mind". Album still under performed (did well in certain territories I believe) so they put him back in with pop producers but couldn't attract the names they did the first time (smaller budget? People didn't want to be associated with an artist not pulling in numbers?) and it definitely sounds like it.
At this point, I'd usually tell you about a song I liked on there. This won't happen today. Actually, the first single "Other Side of Love" is listenable. Good song lyrically, but beat is a rehash. Benny Blanco got the big hit on the previous and here too. The rest is incredibly bad. However, if maths serve me correctly this was his last album on Atlantic.
But on a positive, he has putting in some work as a featured artist on some quality/better songs and a non-album single. All of which have been a million and forty times better than his album. I recommend you get stuck into these instead. Had this been the work he was doing last year, life would've been a bit better for this album I reckon. Let us raise our heads and pray the label doesn't get involved (at all) with the creativity again so we can get the proper good Sean Paul back.
No this The Saturday's song isn't good, but its an example of an electro song better than his album. And he got a #1. Then he got a #7 in the same year with "Other Side of Love" yet no album dropped until he was cold. My money's on the label's American side messing up the base (or maybe the album wasn't ready). A EU released album would've capitalised on his success. In the end, it was dropped into a vacuum of space.
First up is a nice and easy reggaeton song for the ladies hips with a top reggaeton artist called Farruko produced by Jamaican producer Rvssian. Those of you familiar with SP's rise to fame will know the Hispanics embraced "Gimme The Light" helping him turn into the star he became. He catered to them on Tomahawk Technique (both "Got 2 Luv U" and "She Doesn't Mind" are very close to where reggaeton is now), lacked that factor on most recent.
Next up is Enrique Iglesias (yes, the lucky bugger who still goes out with Anna Kournikova) recruited Mr Sean Paul for the Spanglish version of current smash-hit Bailando ("dancing" en Ingles.)
So you've got the Hispanics on board. Who else will make Marvin a happy guy? Africans!
Timaya's "Bum Bum" was one of my favourite afrobeats songs last year. Ok, so Machel Montano's remix is a lot catchier, but hey, it's better than anything on Full Frequency.
Not just one song, there's two. UK's very own Ghanian, who's currently on a spree of chart hits, only went and bagged an SP feature. This is better than the above. Not gonna say much on this because I have another post lined up for this. Listen below. (And pre-order please)
Last but by no means least, the crossover-"EDM" crowd is sorted with this Major Lazer feature. Similar to last year's Busy Signal-assisted "Watch Out For This (Bumaye)" with the moombahton/electro-reggaeton/dancehall vibe (and we know reggaeton is heavily influenced by dancehall/Poco Man Jam riddim).
To me, this is what Sean Paul should and hopefully wants to do. Not too much of this EDM stuff. I can tell the features are just him and management choosing what's right as opposed to falling victims to major label pie charts and graphs. I could've helped him make a much better album than what he produced. There were enough Jamaican riddims for him to touch. I would've hooked him up with people like Rudimental and other UK producers too to give him bangers. Got man like Kill Beatz and it's orn end poppin' san. Why didn't he link with Rvssian for his album? Anju Blaxx? C'mon. Popcaan feature? Denyque? Get Di Genius to give him some dancehall?
So yeah, if you don't like anything Sean Paul has done in the past few years, I hope/reckon you'll like at least 3 of the above 5. And please, preserve your mind of good Sean Paul. Get Full Frequency at your own risk innit. That's your "Marvin's Advisory" e-sticker.
Other features:
There's this with a Haitian artist, this with Wisin (of Wisin y Yandel fame) and this solo song which is awesome, produced Rvssian (again), on the Rvssian riddim, which sounds like another Hispanic-friendly riddim. Vintage Sean Paul on form here. Not as good as but definitely close to the levels of the peak. And his best dancehall song since "Turn Me On" on Smokin riddim.
Here's hoping for a bright future.
p.s. check my post on why dancehall hasn't produced another Sean Paul here.
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