Shaggy lounges happily on a sofa during a photo shoot.

"Ultimatum" strikes a jazzy hip-hop note, produced by Shaggy's long-time collaborator, Shaun Pizzonia, known as Sting International, whose creative direction unifies the album; and "Stand Up" revives the rhythm of 'Draw Your Brakes," first popularized on the soundtrack of the epochal gangster-reggae film fable "The Harder They Come."

'There's always lots of variety on my albums," Shaggy understates. "I'm the only one in dancehall who can do any kind of music I want, and I like that. I find a new thing and I want to experiment."

In his last public appearance, Shaggy had seen his ambitious and heartfelt concept CD of tributes to the women in our lives, the 2002 release of the double platinum-certified Lucky Day caught up in an impending label shutdown. Signing to Geffen records following the closing of MCA records, Shaggy started a new release almost immediately.

Two years of recording later, he sounds not worn down, but absolutely energized from ths extended period of music making. “I wish everyone could see what it’s like in our studio. All my friends are here, every day, working and getting high on music.”

Shaggy displays a more demure side, top pic, then shows off his performance skills, center. The International reggae star, above, is becoming the epitome of cool.