Roxanne '97 Puff Daddy Remix

Only hitmaker Sean ”Puffy” Combs could pull off merging the Police’s melancholy ’79 hit with UTFO’s hip-hop chestnut ”Roxanne, Roxanne.” Other than the awkward cameo rap from the Fugees’ Pras, the update works surprisingly well: Sting’s distinctive wail fits perfectly with Puffy’s thumping break beats. Then again, listening to the original reggae-tinged ”Roxanne” it becomes clear the Police were all about laying pop hooks over serious rhythm, anyway. B+