Ghetto Youth Riddim – Tads Records

In 2019, when roots-oriented reggae was leaning hard on conscious lyrics and lean digital arrangements, Tad’s Records put out Ghetto Youth Riddim as a compact seven-song set plus version. The lineup is anchored by Chezidek, Perfect Giddimani, Zamunda, Kharuso, Hytanyah, Kali Blaxx, and Ras Myrhdak, with “More Trees, ” “Tax Extortation, ” and “Dem a Enemy” carrying most of the weight. It’s a straightforward enough one-riddim exercise, but the writing keeps the focus on faith, pressure, and social tension rather than any glossy studio trickery. The instrumental sits in that stripped-back late-2010s reggae mode: steady drum pattern, deep bass line, clipped guitar skank, and enough open space for the singers to lean into their phrasing. The version closes it out cleanly, with the groove held at an unhurried mid-tempo pace.