Ghetto Salute Riddim – Givanchy Records

Ghetto Salute Riddim cuts a sharp, Zimbabwe-rooted dancehall groove from Givanchy Records, the kind of riddim that keeps the drums tight and the bassline moving while the vocals carry the pressure and street-level detail. Killer T sets the tone with “Amai Vangu, ” and Tocky Vybz’s “Hazvidi Simbe” has the kind of clipped, forward-driving phrasing that gives the project its edge, while Qubella and Young G help keep the lineup varied without losing the same hard, pacy momentum. The whole thing landed in 2014 as a big Zimdancehall-style showcase, with 16 artists across 17 tracks, so there’s plenty of movement between heavier chant-style cuts and more melodic turns. By the time it reaches the last cut, Munex’s “Ndiwe Wandinoda B, ” the riddim has already done the work of tying the package together.