Billboard Riddim (2011) – Bass Runner Productions

Billboard Riddim hits with a bright, skittering dancehall bounce and a lean, digital snap that keeps the energy up without getting cluttered. Bass Runner Productions put together a 2011 showcase that feels built for the dance, with Gappy Ranks’ “English Money” sitting neatly beside Da’Ville’s sharper “Scream Out” and the cheeky back-and-forth of Red Fox and Rayvon on “When It Get You Home. ” The title cut itself keeps the riddim front and center, letting the hooky programming and stripped-down drum work do the talking while names like Beniton The Menace and New Kingston add extra colour around it. There’s a nice little tension here between swagger and melody, and even the lighter turns, like Ton Hype’s “Red Up, ” keep the whole thing moving with a slightly raw, after-hours feel.