Shaggy has returned, with a new version of his hit song "It Wasn't Me (Hot Shot 2020)(Ft. Rayvon)." The Jamaican artist’s diamond-selling fifth LP Hot Shot, released in 2000, boasted two #1 singles, including the multi-platinum original version of “It Wasn’t Me," which cemented his status as one of the best-selling dancehall artists of all time. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hot Shot, the two-time Grammy winner will soon share Hot Shot 2020, a new album featuring updated renditions of his biggest hits and fan favorites, along with a several new unreleased tracks.

“My initial thought for this project was to recreate the full Hot Shot album exactly how it was done, but then I decided I wanted to mix it up,” said Shaggy. “I lived that Hot Shot moment already and it was an amazing ride. I wanted to move forward and try new things, add some of my other hits...and bring in different vibes while exploring some sounds we’d never used before.”

In the recording of Hot Shot 2020, Shaggy called on an impressive lineup of producers, including Martin Kierszenbaum (Lady Gaga, Madonna), Dave Audé (Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige), and Dwayne “iLL Wayno” Shippy (Alicia Keys, Nicki Minaj). Mostly made in NYC but partly recorded in Jamaica, Hot Shot 2020 also found Shaggy re-joining forces with his longtime collaborator producer Shane Hoosong. “Shane’s got a way of putting the right feel and flavor into the production, so that the song hits you right in the chest,” Shaggy noted.

On Hot Shot 2020’s update of “It Wasn’t Me,” produced by Hoosong and featuring Barbadian singer Rayvon, the track at first proved challenging to revisit. “What we ended up doing was bringing in the dancehall drums, like we always do when we play it on tour," said Shaggy. "It took the song to a completely different place, and at the same time it felt so natural for us to go there.”

Looking back on the making of Hot Shot 2020, Shaggy admits to a certain feeling of surprise at the final product. “I’m extremely critical and figured there was no way we could top what we’d done before, but now when I’m playing these new versions, I just love the feel of them so much,” he said. “I think my purpose and my job is to bring joy to as many people as I can, and I want that to resonate within all of the music that I create.”