Bad Cowboy Riddim – J Rod

2013 was a busy year for rootsy dancehall riddims with a bit of attitude, and Bad Cowboy fit right into that lane with J-Rod’s rough-edged one-drop swing and a quick, no-frills lineup. Turbulence’s “Over Now” has that urgent, pleading tone he does so well, while Merciless sounds especially sharp on “Facts Of Life, ” turning the rhythm into a straight talk session. Marlon Asher’s “Praising Jah Now” brings the conscious side of the project into focus, and General Grant doubles up with “Inna Meh Car” and “Cowboy, ” leaning into the title’s outlaw feel. The set came out in late October 2013, and that timing gives it the feel of a compact, end-of-year drop rather than a bloated compilation.