D Avenue Riddim (2016) – Anson

With just six cuts, D Avenue Riddim keeps the spotlight on a tight little Trinidad soca lineup, and that’s part of the charm here. Blaxx comes in first with “Coming Over, ” a straight-up fete tune, while Lyrikal’s “Hello” has that cheeky, radio-friendly bounce he’s so good at turning into a hook. Patrice Roberts is the standout name in the pack, and “Who I Am” gives the riddim a more personal, confident edge; she was already one of the scene’s most reliable voices by this point, and it shows. Olatunji’s “Oh Meh Darlin” and Preedy’s “Freeloader” keep the energy moving before Sekon Sta closes with “Mad Man. ” Released in 2016, this one sits right in that era when soca was leaning hard into bright, whistle-ready carnival material.