Global Smokers Riddim – Various Artists

King Asar gives Global Smokers Riddim its sharpest lift, especially on “Equal Action” and “Gallis Longtime, ” where his delivery rides the cut with a rough-edged urgency that suits the whole set. Around him, Robby Slycer’s “Babylon, ” Luckykid’s “Clean, ” and Chris Ville’s “Empress Fyah” keep the energy moving through a taut, mid-tempo dancehall groove with a smoky, slightly brooding feel rather than a flashy one. The lone “Unknown Artist” cut, “You Cant Feed Me, ” adds to the streetwise tone before the version closes things out. With seven tracks and six names on the billing, this 2012 release sits comfortably in that period when riddims leaned leaner and darker, letting the voices carry the message over a spare, pressure-heavy rhythm.