Baha Men’s Handle It Album Review: A Wild Ride Through Reggae and Dancehall Vibes
Alright, let’s get into it. Baha Men dropped Handle It back in 2003, and while it might not be their most famous work (we all know "Who, Who, Who, Who, Who?" is untouchable), this album has some serious flavor. With its mix of reggae, electronic beats, house vibes, and dancehall swagger, it's like a tropical party that somehow found itself on a club playlist. The whole thing was put together by some heavy hitters—shoutout to Steven "Lenky" Marsden for producing and Sly Dunbar for programming those killer beats.
Now, the album’s got three tracks, but we’re gonna zoom in on two of them because life’s too short to talk about every remix under the sun.
First up, “Handle It (Radio Edit)”—this one hits different. From the second it starts, you’re hit with this infectious beat that feels like someone spiked your drink with pure energy. Lenky Marsden really knows how to layer sounds, man. You’ve got that classic Baha Men vibe, but there’s something fresh here too—a little electronic twist that keeps things interesting. And let me tell ya, Kandi Burruss and R. Carey definitely knew what they were doing when they helped write this jam. It sticks in your head without being annoying, which is rare these days. Every time I hear it, I can’t help but bob my head like an idiot.
Then there’s “Handle It (Fannypack Mix)”, which honestly caught me off guard at first. If you’re expecting chill reggae vibes, think again. This version goes hard. Like, straight-up dancefloor chaos. Whoever Fannypack is, they brought the heat. It’s wild how they took the original track and turned it into something completely new—like if your favorite pizza suddenly got extra toppings you didn’t know you needed. The bassline? Insane. The buildup? Chef’s kiss. This remix is the kind of song that makes you wanna grab random strangers and start dancing like nobody’s watching.
One thing I gotta say about Handle It as a whole—it’s short but sweet. Three tracks ain’t much, but sometimes less is more, right? Plus, knowing that Steve Greenberg was the executive producer adds another level of cool to the project. Dude clearly had vision.
But here’s the kicker: listening to this album now feels kinda bittersweet. In 2003, music was experimenting so much with blending genres, and Handle It is proof of that creativity. Nowadays, everything feels so polished and safe. Where’s the risk? Where’s the fun?
Anyway, final thought—I bet no one expected me to end this review talking about fanny packs. But hey, maybe that’s why the Fannypack Mix stood out to me. It’s quirky, unexpected, and kinda genius. Just like this album.
