African Princess Riddim – Irie Ites Records

Irie Ites put out African Princess Riddim in 2017, and it sits right in the French crew’s long run of roots-and-dancehall juggling projects built for selector-friendly replay. The label, driven by Manu Irie Ites and his sound-system circle, has spent years mixing modern digital pressure with old-school reggae muscle, and this one follows that pattern closely.

The riddim has a warm, skanking pulse with a heavy bassline, crisp drums, and that polished-but-rough edge Irie Ites has made a calling card. It leaves enough space for the singers and DJs to work the pocket, then tightens up again on the hook. Dennis Brown’s “In The Mood For Love” gives the compilation a classic emotional pull, while Echo Minott and Skarra Mucci’s “Wicked and Wild” brings a more animated dancehall edge. King Kong’s “Change” and Perfect Giddimani’s “Pull Up” both ride the rhythm with conscious energy, and Lt Stitchie’s “Free Up” adds veteran deejay flair. Lilly Melody, credited here as Isiah Mentor, turns in “Ganja Now, ” and Trinity with D. Brown closes the loop on the title cut, “African Princess, ” giving the project a proper roots-era anchor. Jericho’s dubwise version deepens the set and underlines that this was made for juggling, not just streaming.

What makes the release land is the blend of generations: Dennis Brown’s timeless voice, late-era rub-a-dub veterans, and newer conscious singers all locking into the same groove. It feels like Irie Ites reaching back through reggae history without treating the past like a museum piece.