Bubble Up Riddim – 40/40 Productions

Bubble Up Riddim came out in 2004 on 40/40 Productions, the Lenky-led imprint that had already turned him into one of dancehall’s most bankable rhythm makers. By then, Steven “Lenky” Marsden was riding the reputation built on Diwali and Masterpiece, and Bubble Up sits right in that same early-2000s 40/40 run, where crisp programming and crossover-ready hooks were part of the formula.

The riddim has that sharp, clipped Dancehall bounce that keeps the low end moving without sounding cluttered. It is built for quick-witted singjays and melody-driven hooks, and the strongest cuts on it lean into that energy in different ways. Sean Paul’s “We’ll Be Burnin’” is the obvious anchor, a party record that helped push the riddim far beyond Jamaican juggling circles. Assassin’s “God Bless” rides the track with stern, focused delivery, while Bling Dawg’s “Ain’t Scared” and Hawkeye’s “Everything Is Ok” add more street-level personality. Voicemail’s “A Nuh Your Fault” gives the set a group-vocal edge, and Chico’s “Change Your Ways” and Danny English’s “Michelle” show how the riddim can carry both romantic and tougher material. General Degree’s “It Deh Yah” and Degree’s “It Deh Ya” point to the era’s habit of recycling phrasing into new versions, which fits the whole juggling spirit here.

The project was eventually pressed through VP under the Riddim Driven banner in 2005, but its identity is pure 2004 40/40 dancehall: sleek, punchy, and built to move a dance fast.