Dr Ribhe Riddim – Chillspot Records

Bazooker’s “Mum and Daughter” sets the tone on Dr Ribhe Riddim, and Chillspot Records use it to frame a cut that sits squarely in Zimdancehall’s rough-edged, streetwise pocket. The 2021 set moves through a mix of tougher chanter energy and more melodic hooks, with Enzo Ishall’s “Training Gaga” and Jah Master’s “Patani Kadhija” giving the riddim its sharpest pull, while Boss Pumacol, Hwinza, Gina Marina and the rest keep the pace busy without letting the groove lose its bite. Chillspot Records, long one of the key names behind Zimbabwe’s dancehall sound, keep the arrangement tight and percussive here, letting the vocals do the talking. Bazooker’s double take on “Mum and Daughter, ” in clean and raw versions, is the tune that lingers longest once the rest of the cuts have passed.