Sean Paul: Dutty Rock 2LP Crystal Clear Vinyl

Why you'll love it

This 20th anniversary 2LP set on crystal clear vinyl includes the later additions, among them "Baby Boy" with Beyoncé. Dutty Rock won the Grammy for Best Reggae Album, reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200 and topped the albums chart in Canada.

This edition

2LP set
Crystal clear vinyl
20th anniversary edition
Limited edition

About the album

Dutty means dirty, Sean Paul explained, as in dirty rock, and the point was simply that you rock. He wasn't chasing a crossover. Moving to Atlantic after his VP Records debut Stage One, he set out to bottle the feel of the Jamaican house parties of his youth and the energy he felt on the dance floor, and the rest of the world turned up anyway.

His longtime team of Jeremy Harding, Tony "CD" Kelly, Delroy Foster and Steely & Clevie did much of the heavy lifting, joined by Mark Ronson, The Neptunes, King Jammy and Ward 21. The Neptunes' "Bubble" slinks along on tabla and flute, "Gimme the Light" and "Get Busy" turned dancehall riddims into international hits, and "Like Glue" and "I'm Still in Love with You" went top ten too. It all flows like a sound system set, from the "Dutty Rock Intro" to "Baby Girl."

AllMusic called it an infectious record bursting with hooks, and it went on to introduce a whole generation to Jamaican dancehall. We put it on in the shop on grey February afternoons, purely for medical reasons.

Also at Kops: more Sean Paul on vinyl · browse Reggae & Caribbean