Fireball Riddim – Cali Bud

Produced by Cali Bud in 1999, Fireball Riddim lines up a strong late-’90s dancehall cast with Elephant Man, Shabba Ranks, Delly Ranks, General B, Harry Toddler, Major Christie, Vegas, and others riding the same driving cut. Elephant Man’s No Way and Shabba Ranks’ Run Dem are among the better-known pulls here, while Delly Ranks’ Hype and Buy Car and Harry Toddler’s Fire Pon A Man help give the set its rough, lively edge. The riddim also turns up on the Cali Bud label, which was active on a small run of releases around this period. It’s a compact, no-nonsense sound that captures the energetic crossover-heavy dancehall style of 1999.