Awful Riddim – John John Records

Released in 1999 on John John Records, Awful Riddim is a compact reggae set with 17 cuts and a broad dancehall-heavy lineup that pulls in Alley Cat, Frisco Kid, Lady Saw, Mad Cobra, Mr Vegas, Sanchez, Sean Paul, Spragga Benz, and Wayne Wonder. The version is also known as a take on the Shank I Sheck rhythm, and that roots it in the late-’90s John John style that kept dancehall moving with sharp hooks and edgy subject matter. Standout sides include Alley Cat’s Protect Me, Sanchez’s Tears On My Pillow, Sean Paul’s Mek It Go So Den, and Wayne Wonder’s Dead Serious, with Cease The Violence and Clean Heart adding a more conscious note to the mix.