Grave Digging Riddim (2019) – Kool Face

Kool Face’s Grave Digging Riddim doesn’t go for the glossy, radio-polished side of 2019 dancehall; it lands harder, with a grim, streetwise pulse that suits the title and the tune names alike. Blakkman’s “Grave Digging” and Buck 1’s “Murderer” lean into the darker end of the spectrum, while Mr Fashion’s “Gun Activity” and Richie Five’s “Three Pointer” keep the pressure up with clipped vocals over a tight, marching bounce. Classical Eska closes things out on “War Dem A Look, ” and that last cut leaves the riddim in the same tense mood it opens with. At just five tracks, it’s a lean showcase for Kool Face Records, built for the dance rather than the replay-friendly singalong.