Rat Poison Riddim (2008) – Dem Yute Deh Music

Rat Poison. Dem Yute Deh Music’s 2008 cut comes with that sharp, hard-edged dancehall energy that likes to keep the melodies lean and the bass line busy while the voice cuts do the talking. The lineup moves from Flexx’s “Badmind” and Vybz Kartel’s “Pree Dem” into Voicemail’s “Informa, ” with Spragga Benz and Sizzla adding some veteran muscle to the middle and back end. There’s a clean version of Flexx’s tune in the set too, which makes the project feel aimed at both sound system play and wider radio run. But the one that lingers is Kartel’s “Pree Dem, ” the kind of grim, hooky performance that locks onto the riddim’s tension and drives it straight through.