Darkness Riddim – Claims Records/Gutty Bling Productions

Beenie Man anchors Darkness Riddim with a pair of sharp cuts, and “Nuh Talk Too Long” in particular feels like the one that sets the tone: lean, impatient, and all sting. Claims Records and Gutty Bling Productions keep the energy tight and a little menacing, letting the voices ride a dark, stripped-back dancehall pulse while Chase Cross, Flexx, Supa Hype and the rest come through with the kind of roadside tension the title promises. There’s a nice contrast between Beenie Man’s clipped confidence and Singing Sweet’s more conversational “Talk, ” which gives the juggling a small, sly breather before it snaps back into hard talk and warning shots, 2011 style.

Darkness Riddim Tracklist:

01. BEENIE MAN – NUH TALK TOO LONG PT 202. BEENIE MAN – RUN N HIDE03. CHASE CROSS – WHEN ME SQUEEZE04. FLEXX – BLOOD A RUN05. SUPA HYPE FT BIG WAYNE – CALL SECURITY NOW06. SAVAGE – KEEP CALM07. SINGING SWEET – TALK BADNESS08. EINSTEIN – MI BUSS MI GUN MESELF09. MACKA DIAMOND – NUH GAL10. MUNGA – FUNERAL BELL11. KIBAKI – DEM A RUNNER12. MAVADO – DARKNESS13. KEIDA – WICKEDEST THING14. CLAIMS RECORDS & GUTTY BLING PRODUCTIONS – DARKNESS RIDDIM INSTRUMENTAL