95 Riddim – Various Artists

Coming in with that early-2000s dancehall pressure, the 95 Riddim circles a lean, dark groove that leaves plenty of room for the voice. The cut list leans on street-ready deejay work and sharp hooks, with Gappy Ranks’ “Trouble Ahead” and Sweetie Irie’s “Come Get It Nuh” doing a lot of the heavy lifting, while Shay and Skelly Banton add a rougher edge on “Show It Off. ” The whole juggling feels cut from the same cloth as the minimalist, repetitive riddims that were moving through the dance around 2006, all clipped drums, nagging keyboard figures and a bassline that keeps stepping forward without getting busy. It’s the kind of rhythm where the chant matters as much as the tune, and the low end is doing most of the talking.