Ghetto Crying Riddim – DJ Kunteh Records

Teejay’s “Real Stay Real” feels like the cleanest entry point into Ghetto Crying Riddim, a 2016 DJ Kunteh Records juggling that leans into grim, street-level dancehall with a plaintive edge. Around it, the lineup keeps the mood tight: Chilando’s “Weh Mi Come From” and Lusion’s “My Own” sit comfortably beside the rawer cuts from Ryme Minista, Savana Painter and Tee Que, while Bencil, Danjay and Mr Grey add more of that hard-luck, survivalist tone the title promises. It’s the kind of one-drop-less, bass-heavy dancehall rhythm built for talk about struggle, pressure and keeping faith, and the raw versions give it a little extra bite. DJ Kunteh keeps the focus on the vocals rather than ornament, which suits a period in mid-2010s dancehall when concise, voice-led riddims were doing most of the heavy lifting.