Essence Riddim (2014) – Leaf Of Life Production

By 2014, reggae was leaning hard into conscious one-riddim sets again, and Essence Riddim fits right into that lane with Leaf Of Life Production steering an eight-song package that keeps the mood clean and rootsy. Mikey General’s “Walk Rite” comes in with that steady, sermon-like push he does so well, while Turbulence turns “No Heart” into the sharper, more defiant cut on the rhythm. Abijah’s “Humility” and Perfect’s “100% Love” keep the project on a positive tack, but there’s enough edge in Malijah’s “We Smoke” and Powerful’s “Master” to stop it from feeling too polite. Leaf Of Life had already been building a small but recognizable reggae catalogue by then, and Essence feels like one of those mid-2010s sets that was made for people who still wanted message music with a proper skank.