As big spring productions like Maximum Sounds' Skateland riddim, Juke Boxx’s Sweet Wata and Necessary Mayhem’s Gorilla version are still bubbling in the dance, selectors are looking for new tunes to rock festival season and outdoor parties.
So wah gwaan?
First up, PBR Productions (Phatty Boom Room) have a nice mid-tempo one-drop production called the Template Riddim featuring Luciano, Lutan Fyah, Jah Victory, Adena Myrie and J Strutta.
The combination of new and established artists on this music backdrop works well. Luciano and Lutan offer firm Rastaman perspectives while J Strutta and Adena Myrie deliver excellent modern lovers rock tunes. Watch out for Adena: She’s coming with a style reminiscent of UK greats like Deborahe Glasgow or Louisa Mark – she blends superb R&B tones with a reggae flow.
Preview on YouTube.
Download the Template Riddim
Template Riddim tracks:
Luciano “Only Love”
Lutan Fyah Ft. Jah Victory “One At A Time”
Adena Myrie “I’m Sorry”
J Strutta “Hold On”
Stephen Marley’s Ghetto Youths International camp has versioned one of the biggest singles from his latest album Revelation: The Root of Life. The Jah Army Riddim takes Black Uhuru's “General Penitentiary” riddim and modernizes the beat.
The album track “Jah Army” features Stephen Marley, Jr. Gong and Buju Banton, while the riddim set includes new songs from Gappy Ranks, Tarrus Riley, Jah Cure, Pressure, Ward 21 and Spragga Benz.
Spragga Benz offers a celebratory ganja anthem while the Chris Ellis (Alton Ellis’ son) and Gappy Ranks combination talks frankly about police harassment. Dead Prez deliver a dose of Black history as only this talented American duo can. (They’ve been touring and working with Stephen Marley a lot recently, which can only lead to good things.)
The mystic Jah Cure issues a cautionary parable and sings, “look both ways when you cross the road…”
Jah Army Riddim produit par Guetto Youths International mixed by k-za by sundayculturetunes
One more tune (and riddim) starting to make lot of noise since it was released in May is Boom Skeng from FiWi Music.
I don’t have a lot of details yet, but the G Whizz title track “Boom Skeng” is great rub-a-dub-inspired modern reggae. See a video preview below. Now – out to the dance!
