Fire Riddim (2012) – Wagram Music

Fire Riddim from Wagram Music sits in that early-2010s French reggae crosscurrent, with a crisp, rootsy dancehall pulse that gives Derajah, Biga Ranx, Taiwan MC, and Linval Thompson room to work different angles on the same instrumental. Derajah’s “Legalize It” leads the set, while Biga Ranx’s “No Water In My Wine” and Taiwan MC’s “Weed Get Me High” push the riddim toward a more playful, smoke-hazed corner; Thompson’s “Jah Jah Children” brings the weight back into focus. Issued in 2012, the project runs lean at six tracks, including a special version of Derajah’s cut and a straight fire version at the end, all carried by a midtempo one-drop pattern and a deep, rolling bass line.