Golden Hen Riddim (2015) – Papa Michigan

Papa Michigan took a classic dancehall idea and turned it into a 2015 roots showcase with real history behind it. The Golden Hen Riddim sits on the old Mad Mad family tree, the same strain that gave Tenor Saw his 1986 anthem and later fed Michigan and Smiley’s Diseases side of the story. That lineage gives the project its pull: familiar, streetwise, and built for replay, but framed with a cleaner, modern 2015 reggae mix.

The production credit sits with Papa Michigan, and the release was issued as Golden Hen Riddim, Vol. 1 in 2015. The cut list mixes veterans and conscious voices in a way that suits the source material: Tenor Saw’s Golden Hen remains the anchor, while Papa Michigan and Tarrus Riley’s Dangerous Diseases gives the riddim a direct generational link. Luciano, George Nooks, Half Pint, Jah Mason, Lutan Fyah, Mikey General, Ed Robinson, Triston Palma, Lukie D, Fiona, Brando, Pampi Judah, and Michigan and Smiley all help widen the frame without breaking the mood.

Musically, this is not flashy dancehall. The groove is mid-tempo and sturdy, with the taut swing and heavy low end that suit a remake of a familiar classic. The vocal approach stays mostly devotional and reflective: love songs, warnings, social commentary, and spiritual caution. Lutan Fyah and Luciano bring the militant edge, George Nooks and Half Pint soften it with richer melody, and Papa Michigan’s own cut keeps the riddim tied to its original dancehall lineage.