Air Waves Riddim – Hit Strip Music

Airy but heavy, this 2008 Hit Strip Music cut rides a bright, springy dancehall pulse that still leaves room for those sharp-edged vocals to bite. Beenie Man is the anchor twice over, pairing his swagger with D’Angel on the patriotic “Land Of Jamaica” and then turning up the pressure again on “Product Of The Ghetto, ” while Elephant Man, Anthony B, Kiprich, and Vybz Kartel push the rhythm in different directions. Perfect’s “Nuh Fi Suck” and the raw version add a slyer, more unruly edge, and Macka Diamond and Tammy Chin keep the energy playful. With 14 tracks and 13 voices, Air Waves sits right in that late-2000s moment when dancehall riddims were leaning bright and fast, but still needed enough bass to carry a crowd.