The year 1995 was a watershed moment for reggae music, as the genre deftly balanced its storied traditions with bold, innovative experimentation that garnered global acclaim. It was the year that saw Diana King’s ascension from underground demos to a polished and impactful studio debut, while Buju Banton embarked on a profound artistic pivot, transitioning from dancehall’s gritty intensity to a spiritually resonant Rastafarian ethos. Here, WMV examines the five most significant reggae and reggae-influenced albums that defined this pivotal year.
1. Buju Banton – ‘Til Shiloh
Buju Banton’s ‘Til Shiloh is considered a reggae masterpiece, showcasing his transition from dancehall to roots reggae. Tracks like “Untold Stories” displayed a profound lyrical depth, earning critical acclaim and a lasting legacy. 30 years later, Buju Banton’s Til Shiloh (25th Anniversary Edition) has surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify, becoming his first album to achieve this milestone. Originally released in July 1995, the album is certified Gold by the RIAA, and was re-mastered and re-released in 2020 with music videos updated in HD.
Produced by Donovan Germain and featuring collaborations with notable musicians like Sly Dunbar, Dean Fraser, and others, Til Shiloh remains a timeless classic.
2. Shaggy – Boombastic
Shaggy’s Boombastic became a reggae phenomenon, earning him a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. The iconic single Boombastic was certified Platinum by the RIAA on August 27, 1995, for selling 1 million records in the United States.
Both Boombastic the song and album solidified Shaggy’s reputation as “Mr. Boombastic” and expanded his reach beyond niche markets. Shaggy credits strategic sampling, such as Marvin Gaye’s influence, for making the track appealing to foreign audiences and radio platforms.
In addition to its US Platinum certification, the album earned multiple international certifications, including Silver in the UK (100,000,) Gold in Sweden (50,000,) Canada (50,000,) and Brazil (100,000). The single is Platinum in Australia, New Zealand, and Norway, and Gold in the UK, Germany, Austria, and France.
3. Diana King – Tougher Than Love
Jamaican singer Diana King made waves with her debut album, Tougher Than Love. The album featured her international hit “Shy Guy,” a blend of reggae, pop, and R&B that cemented her place as a versatile artist on the global stage.
Released on April 25, 1995, the album blends reggae fusion, dancehall, and R&B, showcasing King’s vocal talent and includes notable hits like “Shy Guy,” “Love Triangle,” a cover of “Ain’t Nobody,” and “Treat Her Like a Lady.”Critics praised the album’s reggae and dancehall influences, with Music Week highlighting King as a unique and soulful talent. The tracklist features 10 original songs and a bonus track, “I’m Still in Love,” written by Coxsone Dodd and Sugar Minott.
The album peaked at No. 179 on the US Billboard 200, No. 85 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and No. 3 on the Top Reggae Albums chart. Internationally, it achieved significant chart success, reaching No. 5 in Japan, No. 6 in Norway, and No. 9 in Finland. It was certified 3× Platinum in Japan for 600,000 shipments and Gold in Norway for 25,000 sales. Tougher Than Love is certified Gold in the U.S. by the RIAA forsake surpassing 500,000 units on September 17, 1995. It is the last album by a female Jamaican artist to be certified Gold in the U.S.
Maxine Isis Stowe, a former A&R at Columbia Records, vividly recalls signing Diana King to Columbia Records and shaping her career as a pop singer, though the journey was not without challenges. Describing Diana’s early days, Maxine states, “Diana King was part of the dancehall energy. I didn’t want her to rap, but she forced it. If you listen to ‘Shy Guy’ or enough of her songs, there is a rap component to it. I said, ‘Just sing, sing like Mariah. You know Mariah is who you should model, not Patra,’ but I understood culturally she had to do that.”
The signing process was unconventional and fraught with hurdles. Maxine shared how she discovered Diana through a demo from Stephen Stewart and Barry O’Haire, who were producing songs with her. “I got a demo from Stephen Stewart. He and Barry O’Haire were working with City Heat Band, producing some songs with her which I liked, and I presented it to my head of A&R, and he was into it. So I called her because I knew she was on the Shabba tour doing background vocals, and somehow I got connected with her. She thought it was a prank call. I called a couple of times after she hung up.”
Despite her potential, Diana nearly lost her record deal due to a misstep on stage. Maxine recalls, “I almost couldn’t sign her because my boss saw her on the Shabba tour, with Shabba whining on her on a speaker box, and he said ‘no.’ The deal was going to be lost because he said there is no perception for her to be a star if this is what is happening with her.”Determined to secure the deal, Maxine sought help from her attorney, who connected Diana with a manager associated with the Fugees. This strategic move salvaged the deal, allowing Diana to sign with Columbia Records and launch her career.
4. Beenie Man – Blessed
Beenie Man’s Blessed exemplified his dancehall dominance in the mid-90s. It’s his fifth studio album, released July 17, 1995 marking his first internationally distributed project. The album significantly expanded Beenie Man’s audience beyond Jamaica, paving the way for collaborations with major American hip-hop and R&B artists in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Featuring tracks like “Slam” and “Freedom,” the album blends dancehall with global appeal.
Blessed peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, with the single “Slam” reaching No. 33 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart, among other placements. Key contributors include producers like Dave Kelly and The Shocking Vibes Crew. The album established Beenie Man as a prominent figure in international reggae and dancehall music.
5. Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper
Here Comes the Hotstepper, released July 17, 1995 is an album by Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist Ini Kamoze, produced by the legendary duo Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. The album features the international hit title track, “Here Comes the Hotstepper,” which dominated charts in the United States, UK, and Europe.
Co-written and produced by Salaam Remi, and titled the Heartical Remix, it samples tracks like “Heartbeat” by Taana Gardner and “La Di Da Di” by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick. The track features a catchy “na na na na” chorus inspired by Cannibal and the Headhunters’ rendition of Land of 1000 Dances.
It is the first dancehall song to reach #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, Denmark, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe charts. It became a top-10 hit in 13 countries, earning multiple gold and platinum certifications. Critics praised its infectious rhythm and hooks, and it ranked on several “best songs” lists in later years.
The music video includes scenes from the film Prêt-à-Porter. Its legacy includes being interpolated by artists like Daddy Yankee and Static & Ben El and recognized in pop culture, including wrestling and activism against police brutality.
The remaining tracks on the album are re-recordings of songs from Kamoze’s earlier albums, including Ini Kamoze (1984), Statement(1984), and Pirate (1986). Notable songs include “Call the Police,” “World-A-Music,” and “Trouble You a Trouble Me.” Contributions from musicians like Robbie Shakespeare (bass/guitar) and Sly Dunbar (drums) add to the album’s timeless appeal.
The album showcased Kamoze’s flair for blending reggae with mainstream appeal.
