When one thinks of a Jamaican, music by artists such as Bob Marley used to come to mind.

That was then.

Today, big record labels are pushing to have that Jamaican accent attributed to pop stars like Shaggy, and now, Beenie Man.

-Just who is Beenie Man? Well, don’t let that accent fool you – he’s no Bob Marley. He’s another new artist arriving on the scene to take a piece of the Viacom cash pie.

Before I give off the wrong impression, this album is not that bad. The problem is that it’s not good. Whereas others from before Beenie have used their fame to promote their values and try to change things for their struggling people, Beenie Man does the opposite. He obviously has no intention other than profiting off his cute accent and the public’s newfound taste for bland pop tracks.

The first single off the disc is “Feel It Boy” featuring Janet. Yes – Janet Jackson. Apparently, her ego has led her to believe that a last name is now unnecessary. Either that or she doesn’t want to be affiliated with her weirdo brother.

The quiet, electronic track compliments Jackson’s soft voice, and Beenie and Janet’s voices blend together well. It’s definitely the best combination on the album.

The titles of some of the tracks really give away the album’s problems. “Keep It Gangsta,” “Gangsta Life” and “Real Gangsta” are a few that come to mind. Beenie, you’re a gangsta. We get it.

All of these songs are accompanied by ridiculous lyrics like “In Jamaica we holdin’ it down, ain’t no time to be f- around.” Last time I checked, things weren’t so hot down in Jamaica. According to Beenie, life couldn’t be better there.

Another notable track on the album is “Street Life.” Now that we have it through our heads that Beenie is a real gangsta, what would the album be without a description of the hard-knock street life he lives?

This is the album’s best track with a heavy electronic beat and a refreshing guitar lick laid on top. Unfortunately, Beenie doesn’t utilize the track and misses a real chance to make his music the slightest bit meaningful.

Instead of addressing the real issues of the urban street life, he preaches about the real world of “Ballin’ in drop tops.” It’s really too bad. Beenie could have spoken for a lot of struggling people. Instead, he lets them all down.

But maybe I’m wrong. After all, this man is a rapper, an entertainer. He’s not a politician and it’s not his job to change the world. His job is to make you bounce to the beat, nothing more.

Unfortunately, all it takes is a Jamaican accent to lead some to immediately compare pop stars like Shaggy and Beenie Man to a real artist like Bob Marley. I’m here to make sure that there is a line drawn between the two.

No matter how you look at it, this album could have been a lot more than it is. If you like the song’s first single, you’ll probably like the rest of the album. The music is equally methodical and the lyrics are just as boring.