African Gal Riddim – Icons Entertainment

African heat, straight-up dancehall pressure. African Gal Riddim came out in January 2018 from Jay Icon’s Icons Entertainment, and the cut that anchors it best is Beenie Man’s “Money Friend, ” a sharp match for the riddim’s tough, mid-tempo swing and nagging pulse. Delly Ranx chips in with “Buy Out The Bar, ” while Jah Shawn, QQ and the Iyara/Nymron pairing keep the mood gritty and street-minded, with the instrumental closing the set under Jay Icon’s own name. It’s a compact 8-track run, which gives the whole thing a lean, club-ready feel, and the slightly offhand title track spelling on the instrumental just adds to its yard-made character.