357 Magnum Riddim – Steely And Clevie Records

By 1989, Steely and Clevie were already shaping a lean, hard-edged dancehall sound, and 357 Magnum sits right in that pocket with a sharp little run of voices from Chevelle Franklyn, Dirtsman, Johnny P and Patra. The riddim has that late-’80s sting and snap you expect from the duo: spare, rugged, built to let the vocals cut through rather than burying them in excess. Chevelle Franklyn’s “No One In The World” and Patra’s “Gun Inna Panty” bring the most memorable contrast, while Ninjaman’s “Don” pushes the attitude further. The set closes with Steely and Clevie’s own “Pick Pocket, ” a fitting instrumental finish that leaves the rhythm bare and lets the production do the talking.