Dime Riddim – Quantam Records

Quantam Records’ 2009 Dime Riddim sits in that late-2000s reggae sweet spot where a single groove had to carry a whole cast, and this one does it with a lean, mid-tempo bounce and a clean bassline that leaves plenty of room for the voices. Aima Moses’ “Don’t Come Close, ” Albert Olton’s war-themed cut, and Biggie Irie’s “Baby Momma” set the tone, while Peter Ram, SluggyDan, and MarzVille push the riddim into more playful territory with songs like “Vat, ” “One Girl, ” and “She’s A Dime. ” With 12 tracks from 12 different artists, it’s the kind of multi-artist showcase that was still very much part of the reggae scene in 2009, when producers were turning out compact, vocal-driven riddims that could travel from one singer to the next without losing their shape.