Cheating & Lying Riddim – Penthouse Records

Penthouse Records returns to one of reggae’s most trusted stamps with Cheating and Lying Riddim, released in July 2025 and issued through Penthouse Records Distributors Ltd. Donovan Germain’s Penthouse has long been a Kingston cornerstone, a label and studio that helped define modern roots and dancehall while keeping a strong footing in conscious reggae. That history matters here, because this one feels less like a retro exercise and more like Penthouse doing what it has always done best: pairing clean musicianship with songs that carry a message.

The riddim is warm, steady, and rooted in live-feeling reggae swing, with enough space in the arrangement for each singer to phrase naturally. The cuts run close in length, and the flow suggests a deliberate juggling-style project rather than a random compilation. The title track’s dub gives the set extra weight, letting the rhythm section breathe and making the bassline and drums do more of the talking.

Buju Banton’s “We Only Wanna Live” is the anchor, and it lands with the kind of authority that made his Penthouse era so lasting. Agent Sasco’s “Reggae Proverbs” brings sharp delivery and a more verbal, sermon-like tone, while Shuga’s “Dance With Me” softens the edges with a smoother, more melodic touch. Slashe’s “When Will You Surrender” adds another conscious angle, giving the riddim a broader emotional range without breaking its mood. It is a tidy 2025 reggae set, but more than that, it feels like Penthouse still knows how to make a riddim speak.