Black Rum Riddim – True Blue Family Records

Black Rum comes off as a bright, percussive dancehall set with enough room for both raw cuts and clean radio edits, and True Blue Family Records keeps the energy tight across its 12-track run. The riddim landed in 2017 and pulled in 10 unique artists, so the project has that brisk, scene-wide feel rather than a single-artist showcase. Duane Pressure sets the pace with “Turn Down The Lights, ” while Dermy Dee’s “Gold Mind” and Gia Gray’s “Best Friend” keep the mood moving in different directions; the roster also runs through G Maffiah, Lil 6, Reson 8, Young Pow, Grim Rim, and J Vybz, giving the release a real party-lineup shuffle. The strongest final impression comes from Prohgress, whose “Shame Dem” cuts through the pack with the kind of clipped, pointed delivery that tends to linger after the riddim fades.