Crank Angle Aka Bad Tempo Riddim – Rockers Master International

By 2006, dancehall was still leaning hard on stripped-down sound system artillery, and Rockers Master International’s Crank Angle aka Bad Tempo Riddim fit right into that pressure-cooker moment. The set runs on a clipped, driving one-drop with a stern bassline and a dry, echo-tinged attack that leaves plenty of room for the vocals to cut through. Flourgan’s “Dead In Yah, ” Jr Cat’s “Kingston Jamaica, ” and Reggie Stepper’s “Killing Sound” all push that clash-era energy, while Kandi Man’s “Ganja Palace” keeps the mood rooted in the familiar ganja-and-soundboy code. The version closes things out cleanly, underlining the riddim’s tight tempo and the no-frills, rugged pulse that gives the whole cut its name.