Breakthrough Riddim (2018) – Markus Records

Markus Records put out Breakthrough Riddim in 2018, and the project sits right in the modern dancehall tradition of one riddim carrying a stack of contrasting voices. Markus Myrie, the producer behind the label, is Buju Banton’s son and has been working through Markus Records for years, shaping a catalogue that already had a reputation for clean, current dancehall production before this release arrived. By the time Breakthrough landed in March 2018, the label was already known for pushing young and established names side by side.

The riddim itself moves at a clipped, mid-tempo bounce with a dark, polished edge. The drums stay punchy, the bassline is steady rather than overly busy, and the whole thing leaves room for melodies and melodies with attitude. That sound gives the project its pull: it can hold a smooth, commercial hook just as easily as a rougher street cut.

Popcaan’s “Bullet Proof” is the obvious anchor, with Kranium’s “Lastnight” adding a more melodic, late-night tone. Jafrass brings youthful drive on “Up and Up, ” while Jahazeil Myrie’s “Loved One” carries extra weight because of the family link to the producer and the way he has been building a lane of his own under Markus Records. D’East, Navino, Projexx, Quada, and Versatile all keep the juggling active, and that spread of voices is what gives Breakthrough its shape: polished enough for radio, but still rooted in dancehall street flow.