Athletic Riddim – Ishabingi Records

Ishabingi Records keeps Athletic Riddim in that lean, rootsy reggae lane, with a stepper’s pulse and a tough, clean bassline that gives the whole set some forward motion. The lineup leans nicely across moods: Thrillout comes in with the blunt force of “Get Bun, ” Carl Morrison softens things with the lovers-leaning “Your Tha One, ” and Cutty Ranks cuts through with “Don’t Change, ” the kind of voice that can sharpen any rhythm in a few bars. Ra Deal, Raskali, Jah Tunda, and Dalla Sine round it out with songs that move between personal pleading and social commentary, especially “Poor People Feel It, ” which gives the compilation a heavier edge. Released in 2014, this is the sort of one-riddim set that caught reggae in that period, when producers were still using compact, artist-driven projects to keep roots music current without losing the sound system feel.