Danga Zone Riddim – Various Artists

DANGA ZONE RIDDIM produced by VARIOUS ARTISTS 2004

Danga Zone lands in that early-2000s dancehall pocket where the juggling is stripped down but the tunes still come hard, and this one pulls a strong cast around the riddim with Beenie Man’s “Me Want A Gal, ” Buju Banton’s “Let Me Tell You Something, ” and Capleton going twice on “Blazing Hot” and “Never Leave Me Lonely. ” There’s a bit of everything here — rough-edged gunman energy from Merciless and Bling Dawg, then Lady Saw and Tanya Stephens bringing some sharp contrast — all riding a 2004 cut that keeps the bass heavy and the drum pattern clipped tight enough for straight sound system use. Danga Zone Entertainment was also tied to Jah Cure’s management around this period, which puts the project in the middle of a busy label run. The set closes with a version cut and runs 14 tracks in all, including “Rush On, ” “I’ve Got No Problem, ” and “Tonight. ”

Danga Zone Riddim Tracklist:

1. Beenie Man – Me Want A Gal
2. Bling Dawg – No Odda Girl Like You
3. Bugsy Malone – Trauma Dem Want
4. Buju Banton – Let Me Tell You Something
5. Capleton – Blazing Hot
6. Capleton – Never Leave Me Lonely
7. Danga Zone Version – Unknow
8. Gabriel – Rush On
9. Lady Saw – I’ve Got No Problem
10. Magic – Try Dem Hardest
11. Merciless – Lucky
12. Red Rat – Tonight
13. Roundhead – All Over
14. Tanya Stephens – New Year