4.5 Riddim – Wmg Lab Records

WMG Lab Records’ 4. 5 Riddim lands in that early-2010s dancehall pocket where the rhythm does the talking, all clipped drums, tight bass and a brisk forward push that suits both sly party cuts and tougher warn-out selections. Slash comes in smooth on “You Look Good, ” while Zagga’s “Wine Up” leans more playful, and the Jah Lyfe link-up with Alozade and Ked Cro on “Pull Up Selecta” gives the set one of its sharper moments, with veteran energy sitting neatly beside newer voices. The rest of the juggling keeps that same no-nonsense feel, from “Naa Dead Poor” to “Buss the Case, ” and the riddim closes with a version cut that leaves the beat doing one more lap before it fades out.