Campari And Rum Riddim – Thee Khemist Records

Low-slung and party-minded, the Campari And Rum Riddim leans into a bright, boozy dancehall pulse with enough bounce for the dance floor and enough grit to keep it from feeling too polished. Thee Khemist Records keeps the lineup tight: Alfray’s “Work Hard” brings a more upright, get-on-your-grind energy, Diago’s “When We A Party” pushes the social side, and Patexx’s “Star” is the cut that gives the set a little extra flash. Raytid gets two passes at the title tune, one raw and one clean, which is a nice nod to how dancehall riddims were still being tailored for different ears and different spaces in 2017. It’s a compact six-track drop, but it sits neatly in that era when producers were still making small, hook-heavy riddim packages for selectors and sound systems.