Mention “Who Let The Dogs Out” and everyone knows that is comes from the unknown group, Baha Men. It may seem that the Baha Men have come out of nowhere but their journey to hit-maker status, as been a long and eventful one.

Natives of Bahamas, Baha Men are long-time proponents of Junkanoo, the indigenous rhythm of their homeland. This West African inspired rhythm is traditionally played on goatskin drums and cowbells on the morning after Christmas. The Bahamas' massive Junkanoo parade begins at 3am and doesn't end till dawn. The Baha Men have taken Junkanoo to new places through their recordings.

“My vision,” says Isiah Taylor, the band's founding member, “was to take the instruments from our street festival, and put them together with the stage instruments like bass, drums and guitar. I wanted to blend them all together in order to get the Junkanoo music out to the world.”

Junkanoo may still be a new term to the rest of the world but to the people of the Bahamas it is grounded in a deep history. “There was a man many years ago, back in slavery named John Canoe who was the leader of a revolt on our island.” Taylor explains. “Back then, they would give the slaves time off once or twice a year, around Christmas, and it was the only time the slaves were allowed to play their music, which brought them from Africa, in public. John Canoe organised the slaves one year to communicate with each other using their drums, and this was the beginning of a successful revolt. Today, we celebrate this event by marching through the streets and celebrating using the Junkanoo rhythms.” Although Junkanoo is the musical foundation of Baha Men's sounds, there are other key ingredients that complete the picture. “There is a bit of Africa, pop, R&B, reggae, and ska,” says Taylor, “and it is all blended in with Junkanoo.”

While the core musicians of Baha Men have been playing together in various groupings for over a decade, the band has been dramatically rejuvenated in the past year with the addition of three new lead singers, who have brought with them influences ranging from rap and hip-hop to Jamaican dancehall. Says 22-year-old Marvin Prosper, whose speed-rapping is in full bloom on the “Who Let The Dogs Out” single, “We young guys have idolised Baha Men since we were kids. In the Bahamas, to be asked to join Baha Men is like if an American kid was picked to play for the New York Yankees. It's like a dream come true.”

“We're bringing a lot of new elements to Baha Men's sound,” adds 20-year old vocalist Rick Carey, the son of Baha Men guitarist Pat Carey. “Kids in the Bahamas love Junkanoo, but we also listen to everything from D'Angelo to Juvenile, and the radio down here plays a lot of hot Jamaican artists like Bounty Killer and Capleton,” says Carey, who sings lead on the 'Who Let The Dogs Out' single. “So what we're doing is bringing the whole range of our influences into the group's sound, creating something really new and original.”

“My uncle was the lead singer of Baha Men,” says 19-year old vocalist Omerit Hield, “and I always looked up to the group. To join is an honour and to have a hit record so immediately is the wildest experience of my life. I can't wait to get out there and tour the world.”

The 'Who Let The Dogs Out' album opens, of course with the title track, and quickly segues into the ebullient 'You All Dat', which comes replete with an irresistible sample of 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'. “That track is so much fun,” says Rick Carey. “Everybody who hears it loves it, especially little kids, because they all know that 'wimo-weh' hook from 'The Lion King' and all.”

The next track, 'Get Ya Party On' is a tribute to hip-hop's early days and stars, name checking such rap legends as Kool Moe Dee and Kurtis Blow. “It's a hip-hop track done Junkanoo style,” says Baha Men member Herscel Small. 'Getting Hotter' tips is hat, musically, to Trinidadian soca sounds, and 'Summer of Love' and 'You Can Get It' (co-written by ace tunesmith Mark Hudson and Desmond Child, respectively) are pop-junkanooo hybrids which are bound to get any audience moving.

'It's All In The Mind' is kind of Junkanoo-meets-Cameo jam, while 'Where Did I Go Wrong' features Omerit's silky smooth vocals on the album's lone slow jam. Their party pace picks up again on 'You're Mine', 'What's Up, Come On' and 'Shake It Mama'. The album ends with the Barking Mad Mix of 'Who Let The Dogs Out' remixed by Hamburg natives, The Berman Brothers.

“All in all,” says Proper, “it's a real party album, complete with a slow jam for all the Romeos”.

Hield adds, “It's going to be so much fun to perform this album live. I think people are going to be dancing on their seats at our shows.”

Although the 'Who Let The Dogs Out' album has made Baha Men stars in the US, it is worth noting that they have had five platinum albums in Japan, where they are already a major concert attraction. Additionally, they served as opening act for Hanson on the Tulsa teens' 1998 US tour. And million of television viewers and radio listeners in the States are already familiar with the band's 'Back To The Island', which has been used for the past couple of years as the musical bed for all advertisements for the Bahamas.

“Baha Men are our greatest musical ambassadors,” says Vincent Vanderpol, Director General of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. “We're proud to have their music represent us on the US airwaves.”

And of course, back home in Nassau, Isiah Taylor and crew can barely walk down the street without being recognised. Dubbed by many as “The Mayor of the Bahamas” because of his overwhelming popularity as leader of the most successful band in his country has ever produced, Taylor has no problem with his celebrity status. “I have no difficulty with it,” he admits, “normally if I'm not at the club or rehearsing, I'm always home, but I can walk down the street or walk downtown and people know who I am.”

Taylor has the kind of effusive personality that makes you think you have known him your whole life, and after all he's been through - from meeting Bob Marley (“He was very down to earth; someone who you could really sit down and talk to”) to playing to thousands of rabid Japanese fans - he is not worried about the reception of the album. “I love the album,” he says, “I believe this is our best work, and I really hope that the world will enjoy this album, but I will not worry about it. The key to being happy is don't sit down and worry about anything that you cant change. You must think about who was here last week and is not here this week. Go about your business, be happy, and just be thankful you have life.”

Listen To -
Get Ya Party On
You All Dat