1st Quarters Riddim – K-Licious Entertainment

Tony “CD” Kelly’s K-Licious imprint was behind this 2012 dancehall juggling, and the project sits neatly in the lane he helped define: polished but still firmly rooted in sound-system pressure. Kelly, who founded K-Licious after his years in the Shocking Vibes orbit, built a reputation on sleek, radio-friendly riddims that still carry enough weight for dancehall sessions. By 2012 he was pairing established names with newer voices again, and 1st Quarters landed as one of those carefully shaped label sets that make his catalog so recognizable.

The riddim itself has a smooth, mid-tempo glide rather than a hard chop. It leaves room for melody, but the bounce is still there, which is why the vocals matter so much on it. Beenie Man and Malica’s “Reminisce” gets the veteran-young pairing treatment and sits right in that sweet spot between nostalgia and contemporary chemistry. Shaggy and Shaki’s “Anything” pushes the crossover side harder, while Denyque’s “All About Us” gives the set a warmer, more romantic centre. Mystic’s “You and I” and Notch’s “NaNa” bring a more polished, soulful touch, and General Degree’s “Hold On” keeps one foot in classic dancehall cadence. Future Fambo’s “Roll Out” and Italis’ “Money” add extra personality, with Malica’s solo cut “Best He Ever Had” helping underline that K-Licious was also shaping voices, not just rhythms.

What makes 1st Quarters click is the balance: enough veteran presence to carry weight, enough newer names to keep it current, and a production feel that stays clean without losing its street edge.