Bottom Camp Riddim – Blackstarline

Out of Zimbabwe’s dancehall lane in 2013, Bottom Camp Riddim catches a gritty local moment and keeps the focus on voices that know how to ride a sound system cut. Blackstarline lines up a compact set of DJs and singjays — Axcilant Symptom and Gentle I on “Cut Dem Off, ” Tin Tin linking with Mikey D Aka Jubul and Tiger P for “Kanauchiziva, ” Taylor Talker on “Skiri Repa Ben 10, ” and Bizzy D with The Original on “Tovashutira Firimu” — with the sequence leaning more toward raw, streetwise patter than polished crossover polish. Tin Tin returns later with “Party, ” but the sharpest finish comes from The Original, whose “Hatichada” leaves the riddim with a colder edge than its name suggests.