Herbalist Selection Riddim – R9 Music

R9 Music’s Herbalist Selection Riddim, cut in 2018, sits a little outside the label’s more anonymous one-drop fare by leaning hard into a herb-conscious, rootsy vibe with a distinctly Latin edge in places, thanks to voices like China B and Ungido alongside Bobby Hustle, Jahpablo and Talawa Reggae Army. The set runs ten tracks in 38 minutes, and the songwriting keeps returning to smoke, healing and easy living without sounding rushed. R. Castro’s production leaves plenty of air around the vocals, but the riddim itself keeps a tight, steady pulse under the harmonies, with a warm bassline doing most of the heavy lifting. By the time the version cut and medley roll through, the whole thing feels like a mid-tempo session designed around crisp skanking guitars, clean drum placement and a bass pattern that stays locked in.