Get In The Groove Riddim (1998) – Xterminator Crew

Get In The Groove Riddim lands in that late-90s Xterminator sweet spot where roots discipline met dancehall discipline. Philip “Fatis” Burrell’s label had already become one of the key homes for conscious reggae in the decade, and by 1998 Xterminator was still pairing serious singers with sturdy, reusable rhythms that could carry several strong voices without losing shape.

The groove itself is warm, mid-tempo, and built for singing rather than shouting. It has that clean, live-feeling Xterminator polish: bass weight, crisp drums, and enough space for the vocals to breathe. Beres Hammond’s Nothing No Go So is the anchor, with that relaxed, emotional phrasing he made his signature. Luciano’s Poor Youth Dem Hungry pushes the riddim into heavier social territory, while Morgan Heritage’s Bubble In The Struggle brings family-band harmonies and a pointed message about pressure and survival. Louie Culture’s Original Days and the Charlie Chaplin and Josey Wales combination on Forever Young add a dancehall edge without breaking the roots mood, giving the set some movement and personality.

What makes the project work is the balance between veteran voices and conscious themes. Beres brings the smoothest cut, Luciano the most earnest, and Morgan Heritage the most harmonically rich. The version cuts underline that this was built as a proper juggling set, not just a stack of singles. Even with only a handful of voiced tracks, it holds together like a complete statement from Xterminator at a time when the label knew exactly how to frame roots reggae for the dancehall era.