‘Alpha’ supreme - Strong performance from Shenseea’s debut album

When Shenseea delivered Lick with Megan Thee Stallion in January, she had the dancehall community hysteric about the musical direction she was taking.

Now with last Friday's release of her debut album, Alpha, the recording artiste, who has previously stated her desire to become an international pop star, has once again created a stir.

The album heralds Shenseea's crossing over from dancehall to pop. Lick track is among the 14 tracks on Alpha which also features collaborations with rappers Tyga, 21 Savage and Offset. Dancehall veterans Sean Paul and Beenie Man are also featured. The album currently holds the top spot in 13 Caribbean territories on Apple Music and is #25 on US iTunes Charts.

Billboard-charting producer Johnny Wonder applauded Shenseea and her producers on the quality of the music and for its contribution to dancehall.

"I have never seen a number be number one and all the songs from an album spread across the top one to 16, or in the top 20," he said. "That must have contributed something to dancehall. When someone puts an international act on the album, it doesn't always mean it will be a hit. But I think this was a good lean into pop music or to crossover. It's her career. If she wants to go that direction, leave her mek her do what she waan do."

Entertainment executive Daniellia White also applauded Shenseea's efforts, stating that Alpha "is a solid album" and that her research and hard work was "evident in the different sounds that we certainly haven't heard from her."

"To the world, we are the Mecca and that album certainly is an example of why we are considered the Mecca. I believe her expression of a desire to crossover made a lot of people nervous. She was unapologetically her. Alpha represented her, as it did our culture and our musical legacy. There's something for everyone but Jamaicans are very limited on the music we desire our artistes to do," White said.

Commenting on Shenseea's 'If you're no longer a fan, I'm okay with losing you' comment on Instagram, White said artistes can never please everyone or be everyone's cup of tea.

"We saw that in how Twitter responded. One week they were tearing her apart and this week everyone is singing praises. If she doesn't dismiss the noise, she will be constantly trying to please people and never succeed," White shared.

Some, however, believe that Alpha is not 'authentically and primarily dancehall'. Publicist Ricardo 'Shuzzr' Smith opined that while the collaborations were a strategic addition and shows that Shenseea is making the necessary connections, the album did not do her any justice.

"It demonstrates where Shenseea wants to go artistically but lacks a cohesive sound or theme. Features are great but its purpose should be more than to say 'I did it' but aid with capturing and securing a new audience and most of the features on this project in my opinion were ineffective," Shuzzr told THE STAR. "Yes, it's a numbers game in a streaming era but longevity and uniqueness is more important. Sean Paul's feature did that as it once again showcased his mastery of that crossover sound/appeal that all Jamaican artistes crave and also where she (Shenseea) was at her best on this project."