Aspirations Riddim – Indica Sound

Indica Sound lined up ten voices on Aspirations Riddim, and the result is the kind of 2017 dancehall set that leans more toward conscious skanking than party chatter. Ashaku’s “Jah Glory” and Black Loyalty’s “Struggle” set the tone early, both riding the rhythm with a stern, rooted feel, while Tuff Like Iron’s “Musical Mission” and Vertse Ital’s “Lion Stride” push the whole thing deeper into militant, uplift-heavy territory. There’s a nice range in the cast too, with Daniel Bless, Jah Mender, Jahllano, Kushite and Onechot each finding their own angle without losing the thread of the riddim. It’s a compact 10-track release from a year when Indica Sound was keeping busy across the dancehall side, and this one sits neatly among the label’s more roots-conscious work.