Fu Manchu Riddim – Fu-Manchu

Anthony Johnson is the name that jumps out first here, and “A Ya We Deh” fits the kind of mid-’80s roots cut that still carried real weight in a dance. The Fu Manchu riddim itself is a two-song affair from 1986, credited to Fu-Manchu, with just Johnson and Tonto Irey’s “General A General” riding the groove. What you hear is lean, rolling reggae with that dry, digital-era edge starting to creep in, but still grounded enough for the singers to work the pocket without much fuss. Johnson’s cut has the sharper hook, while Tonto Irey leans into a tougher, chant-like delivery. It’s a small release, but it sits neatly in that moment when late-’80s reggae was tightening its sound and trimming the excess.