Counterfeit Riddim (2005) – Opera House Records

Opera House Records was in sharp dancehall mode on Counterfeit Riddim, and the 2005 set has that rough, cheeky bounce that lets the big names cut through fast. Beenie Man’s “Love You So” opens the door with easy swagger, while Elephant Man gets the cut moving with the harder-edged “Badman Ting” and the more playful “Tight Pum Pum. ” The most talked-about moment is probably Buccaneer linking with Vybz Kartel on “Pum Pum Tight, ” a combo that gives the riddim extra bite and a little more street heat than a straight one-artist cut. Macka Diamond keeps the pressure on with “Mi Worried Bout You, ” and the sequence rolls out to ten tracks in all, including Turnado and the mystery credit “Unknown – Nuh Hard Like We, ” a small oddity that fits the era.