Empress Riddim – Golden House / Jet Star Music

1999 dancehall comes alive on Empress Riddim, a Golden House and Jet Star Music production that pairs Capleton’s Dem Bless with cuts from Pank I, Vylmark Hamilton, Black Coolie, and Emanuel Stain. Vylmark Hamilton turns up twice, including When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman and Bad Man Sitten, giving the set a nice mix of rootsy swagger and dancehall energy. The version at the end keeps the riddim’s stripped-back feel intact, while Capleton’s presence gives the release an extra push. It’s a compact seven-track set with six artists, and the lineup makes it clear this one was aimed squarely at late-’90s sound system play.

Empress Riddim Tracklist:

1. Capleton – Dem Bless
2. Pank I – The Gideon
3. Vylmark Hamilton – When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman
4. Vylmark Hamilton – Bad Man Sitten
5. Black Coolie – Reaction
6. Emanuel Stain – Everything Is Everything
7. Empress Riddim Version