Who Let the Dogs Out [Bonus Tracks] (CD - 2000)

Baha Men: Marvin Prosper, Rick Carey, Omerit Hield (vocals).

Additional personnel includes: Herschel Small, Patrick Carey (guitar); Jeffrey Cher (keyboards); Isaiah Taylor (bass); Colyn "Moe" Grant (drums); Anthony "Monks" Flowers (percussion); Michael Mangini (programming).

Producers include: Steve Greenberg, Desmond Child, Mark Hudson, Michael Mangini.

Engineers include: Luis Diaz, Skoti Elliot, Scott Gordon.

Principally recorded at Mojo Music, New York, New York and The Gentleman's Club, Miami Beach, Florida.

"Who Let The Dogs Out" won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.

Personnel: Marvin Prosper (vocals, rap vocals, background vocals); Omerit Hield, Rick Carey (vocals, background vocals); Jay Siegel (vocals); Herschel Small (guitar, drums, cowbells, keyboard programming, background vocals); Mike Mangini (guitar, programming); Ed Calle (saxophone); Neal Bonsanti (tenor saxophone); Tony Concepcion, Jason Carder (trumpet); Dana Teboe (trombone); Jeffrey Chea (keyboards, drums, keyboard programming, background vocals); Isaiah Taylor (drums, cowbells, background vocals); The Magician, Mark Hudson, Pete Amato (drums, keyboard programming); Jules Gondar (drum programming); Cedric Poitier, Steven Greenberg, Taunya Cooper, Tanya Calendar, Montana Taylor, Chris Willis (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: The Magician; Mike Mangini .

Audio Remixer: The Berman Brothers.

Recording information: Circle House Studios; Gentlemen's Club, Miami Beach, FL; Mojo Music, New York, NY.

This album doesn't really fall into any predetermined category, which is part of what makes it interesting. It's a mix of island music (reggae, calypso, etc.), hip-hop beats, R&B production, and a pure pop aesthetic whose prime directive is unpretentious fun. The eight-strong team of producers' everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach spares no expense and knows no boundaries.

Everything from the signature vocal cry of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" ("You all dat") to the Baha Men's canine imitations (the undeniably infectious title track) is pressed into service. The ultimate goal here is to present a pure party album that will appeal to fans of pop, dancehall reggae, hip-hop, and R&B. That aim is unquestionably achieved, with a collection of songs whose hooks will take up permanent residence in your brain, whether you like it or not.

The Caribbean trio the Baha Men get into the mainstream on their fifth release Who Let the Dogs Out, a brash and funky twist of east coast hip-hop and traditional reggae loops. The initial impression of the album thrives on the success of the album's self-titled single. It's amusing with it's abrasive whoomping throughout the song's chorus, and the Baha Men's quirky beatboxing is head-bopping and energetic. However, throughout the rest of the album, the overall party/celebratory tone takes a toll. It's fun and freewheeling, but it needs variety. The spunk exuded in the title track only delivers so much, so the album falls short just a bit. But for a decent hip-hop album, it's keeping up with current styles and norms. [The 2002 video reissue cuts "Sugar Baby Love," "Beautiful Sunday," and "Reach Out," but adds a dance remix of "You All Dat" and the video for the title track] ~ MacKenzie Wilson minimize