Bubble Gum Riddim (2011) – Washroom Entertainment

Washroom Entertainment had a sharp run in the early 2010s, and Bubble Gum Riddim sits right in that stretch. The label was started in Kingston by producer Samarie “Sam” Forte after he shifted from trying to be an artist into production, and by 2012 it already had a track record with local dancehall radio and chart records. Bubble Gum follows that same lane: a bright, laid-back digital riddim with a smooth bounce rather than a heavy drop, the kind of groove that leaves room for melody, harmony, and hook-heavy songs.

The lineup gives the tune its shape. Alaine turns All Or Nothing into a polished lovers cut, while Demarco’s She Heard It Before brings a more streetwise edge and a sharper deejay attack. Konshens lands Jah Love Mi with his usual singjay lift, and T. O. K. bring their trademark group blend to Yardie, which fits them well given how their harmonies have long bridged dancehall and R and B. Tifa’s Nuh Want Yuh No More! adds direct, feminine push, and Tessanne Chin’s Call Fi Mi Cure draws on the cleaner vocal side of the riddim, closer to reggae-fusion than raw dancehall. Voicemail’s Bubble Pon Mi and Wayne Marshall’s Real Love keep the energy light and hooky.

What makes the rhythm work is that it never feels overcrowded. The instrumental has a soft, buoyant pulse, with a sweet, almost playful feel that matches the Bubble Gum name. It was a 2011 release, and by then Washroom Entertainment was proving it could move easily between club-ready singles and singer-friendly riddims without losing its dancehall footing.