Belview Riddim (Y2K Dancehall Roots) – Slam Records

Slam Records leans into a dusty, Y2K-era dancehall feel here, all driving drum patterns, lean bass and that early-2000s rootsy grit that leaves room for the singers to cut through. Capleton sets the tone with “Zion, ” Anthony B comes in sharp on “Back At You, ” and Sizzla’s “Judgement” keeps the pressure on with that familiar chant-and-testify energy. The little Brawta mini mix with Capleton, Anthony B and Sizzla feels like the obvious centrepiece, tying the whole thing together without overcooking it. Coming from the same camp that’s been keeping reggae-rooted dancehall in circulation, Belview Riddim sits neatly in Slam’s catalog as one of those projects that remembers how much weight a stripped-down riddim can carry when the singers are chosen right.