Gone Too Soon Riddim – Chilla Music

Gone Too Soon Riddim lands a little differently from the more polished Chilla Music productions that turned up later in the decade; this 2014 set keeps things lean, with five voices riding a steady roots pulse instead of chasing anything flashy. Andre Shepherd’s “Come Chill With Me” and Cutty Corn’s title cut sit alongside Chyna Nicole, Indecka and Trilla U, giving the riddim a varied but tightly held vocal mix. The arrangement is built on warm bass, clipped one-drop drums and a restrained guitar chop that leaves plenty of room for the singers. There’s a faint mournful air in the chord movement, but the tune never drags; it stays clipped and measured, with the bass line doing most of the talking while the vocals come in smooth and plain.