Read the High Note with Shaun Smith every Saturday on shorenewstoday.com

The man known as Snoop flourishes as a reggae artist on his latest album, "Reincarnated" released Tuesday, April. 23. The rapper introduced to the world as Snoop Doggy Dogg in 1993 with his debut album produced by Dr. Dre has reinvented himself as Snoop Lion following an influential trip to Jamaica last year. It was there that Snoop Lion said he became immersed in the Rastafarian culture. He also filmed a documentary by the same name as the album that follows his journey as an artist, focusing on his most recent incarnation.

Read the High Note with Shaun Smith every Saturday on shorenewstoday.com

"Ghost on Ghost" released Tuesday, April 16 is the fifth and absolutely best Iron and Wine album to date. Singer-songwriter Samuel Beam, performing under the moniker Iron and Wine, has progressed as a songwriter since his first release in 2002. This just bursts with golden tones and exquisite songwriting.

Produced by Brian Deck, "Ghost on Ghost," incorporates elegant jazz and vocal arrangements that complement Beam's remarkable songwriting. Beam is like a modern Nick Drake in his musical versatility. The 12-track album released on Nonesuch Records is warmly nostalgic yet modern, and is already in contention for my favorite album of the year.