Antique Riddim – Don Corleon Records

Don Corleon lined up Antique Riddim in 2011, and it sits right in the pocket he helped define: clean, melodic reggae production with enough room for singers and deejays to stretch out. The Manchester-born producer Donovan Bennett had already built a reputation as one of the sharpest ears in Jamaican music, with a catalogue that moved easily between modern dancehall and roots-leaning material. Antique is another example of that balance, polished but not overworked, with a warm, steady bounce that leaves the melody open and the bassline carrying the weight.

The cuts on this one give the riddim plenty of range. Capleton’s “Nah Skylark” brings the fire, while Cecile’s “Green Light” pushes a more playful, radio-friendly edge. The combination of Da Professor and Ken Boothe on “Touch U” is a smart cross-generational move, pairing a newer voice with one of reggae’s great stylists. Vybz Kartel and Gaza Slim turn “Need Somebody” into a dancehall duet with real tension, and Protoje’s “Stronger” points straight at the conscious lane he was then sharpening into his own. Romain Virgo’s “Never Go Under” adds smooth, heartfelt tenor work, and Tarrus Riley’s “Antique Loving” feels like the natural anchor, all velvet phrasing and lover’s-rock warmth.

Ky-Mani Marley’s “Be Smart” broadens the set even further, keeping the riddim from settling into one mood. Antique works because it can carry all of those voices without losing its shape, which is exactly the kind of juggling Don Corleon was known for.