Big Problem Riddim – Various Artists

Nine cuts deep and front-loaded with names that carried weight in 2007, Big Problem Riddim feels like one of those dancehall packages built for the dances first and the archive second. Beenie Man’s “Rehab” and Capleton’s “Teach Dem” give it the kind of push you’d expect from two veterans who knew how to ride a raw riddim with attitude, while Elephant Man’s “Bounce A Gal” keeps the energy bright and skittery. Barkey and Macka Diamond’s “Bad Man Bad Gal” adds a playful roughneck edge, and Wicker Man’s “Dat Nuh Right” closes out the set with that straight-up complaint song snap. The tracklist is tight, the mood is very much mid-2000s street dancehall, and the presence of names like Macka Diamond, Beenie Man, Capleton and Elephant Man tells you exactly why this one still gets a look in.