Grung Shake Riddim – Kanambo Music

Kanambo Music’s Grung Shake Riddim sits in that early-2010s wave of compact dancehall projects where the rhythm has to do the heavy lifting, and this one does it with a stripped-down, mid-tempo pull that leaves plenty of room for the voices. Bugle’s “My Name” and Dexta Daps’ “Nuh Preach It” are the obvious anchors, while Konshens’ “No Secret” and Laden’s “Dem Nuh Real (Fraud Ways)” keep the tune in a sharp, wary lane. There’s a local edge to the set too, with Kanambo stepping in on “Never Size Up” and Blak Diamon linking with Total on “Real Chargie, ” which gives the compilation a more hands-on feel than a straight label sampler. The whole thing runs on a dry, rolling bass line and clipped drum pattern that keeps the cuts moving at around a hundred beats per minute.