Cuss Cuss Riddim (2015) – Ire Ites Records

Irie Ites’ Cuss Cuss Riddim leans into a deep, rolling roots groove with just enough dub pressure to keep it moving, the kind of cut that nods to classic Jamaican riddim culture without sounding dusty. The 2015 project lines up four veterans who know how to work that pocket: Linval Thompson’s “Ganja Man” has the kind of easy authority that sticks, Glen Washington brings a brighter devotional lift on “Haile Bless, ” while Joseph Cotton and Trinity keep the dancehall edge sharp with “Dancehall Connection” and “Rock Ina Dancehall. ” The rhythm itself feels sturdy and late-night, carried by warm bass and a measured skank rather than any flashy trickery, which suits the material well. Coming out in a period when roots revival productions were finding new life on dubplates and small-run vinyl, it sits comfortably in that wave while sounding built for sound system play.