This song is part of our “THE SUMMER 97 (1998 x 2023)” playlist. Check out the full list.
Any time an artist can take their own hit song and use it as the blueprint for even better music, the result is iconic. Such was the journey for this 1998 banger from legendary reggae artist Beenie Man. Recently finding new life with Millennial-aged teachers and their Gen Z students on TikTok, “Who Am I” peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, only slightly besting the artist’s 2000 duet with Mya, “Girls Dem Sugar (Sim Simma).” The incomparable Pharrell retooled the original “Who Am I” to make it a newer and fresher track with a broader crossover appeal.
Watch the “Who Am I” video, stream it, or get the Best of Beenie Man!
In celebration of summer, the staff at THE 97 has compiled a playlist containing some of our favorite summer songs, from then and now. Each day we will reveal one song, rotating daily between past and present with pairings from 1998 and 2023, for a total of 97 days/songs. Since we love nostalgia, we’re celebrating summer songs from 1998 as they turn 25, alongside new songs that we feel deserve some shine. Pairings could be thematic, sonic, or based connections between the artists.