Dangerous Riddim – Redman International

A tight, dark 1988 dancehall cut with a lean, almost stalking groove, Dangerous Riddim has that late-’80s Redman International feel where the bass does most of the talking and the vocals ride the pocket without crowding it. Conroy Smith’s “Dangerous” sits right at the center of it, the kind of tune that gives the whole set its name and attitude, and Admiral Tibet’s “Ungrateful Lover” pushes the same rhythm into cleaner roots-madness. Redman International, the Hugh “Redman” James outfit, was deep in that era’s Kingston dancehall run, and you can hear why this particular pattern kept resurfacing for years after 1988, from Sanchez to Buju Banton to Beenie Man, a little time capsule with teeth.