Dream Team Riddim (2017) – Markus Records

Markus Records lined up Dream Team Riddim in 2017 as a clean, club-ready dancehall project with enough edge to work in both radio and juggling settings. The release landed on June 30, 2017 and came out through Markus Records with 21st Hapilos Digital handling distribution. Markus Myrie has long been tied to the label, and this was another run at the kind of glossy, current-day dancehall sound he has been pushing through his productions.

The rhythm has a breezy but forward-driving feel, with a bright, digital pulse that leaves room for melody without softening the impact. Beenie Man’s Astronaut rides it with veteran command, while Popcaan’s Up Forever gives the riddim its most recognizable moment, a declaration track with his usual laid-back authority. RDX bring a sharper, more mischievous club angle on Traffic, and both the clean and raw versions show how the cut was meant to work across different spaces. Vanessa Bling’s Best Friend adds a more melodic, feminine counterpoint, with the kind of sharp-edged delivery that has made her one of dancehall’s more distinctive voices.

As a project, Dream Team Riddim sits comfortably in the 2017 wave of polished, digital dancehall riddims that aimed for crossover reach without losing street pull. The instrumental version lets the pattern breathe, and the strength of the set is how it balances marquee names with songs that feel tailored to the rhythm rather than simply placed on top of it.