Busting Out Riddim – Steely And Clevie

By 1988, Steely and Clevie were already sharpening the sound of late-’80s dancehall, and Busting Out Riddim sits right in that sweet spot: taut, percussion-led, with a bouncing low end and enough space for the DJs to ride the groove hard. The lineup leans into the era’s rough-and-ready charm, with Johnny Osbourne’s “Mister Dis, ” Johnny P’s “People Live Right, ” and Thriller U’s “Young Fresh And Single” giving the set some of its brightest points, while Bunny General, Junie Ranks, and Nardo Ranks keep the energy moving. It’s a ten-track cut that feels aimed squarely at sound system play, and the final stretch, from Tuffest’s “Science” through Tullo T’s “All Purpose, ” keeps the pressure on without letting the riddim lose its snap.