Guns Down Riddim – Shem Ha Boreh Records

Guns Down Riddim came out in 2019 on Shem Ha Boreh Records, the label built around Ras Zacharri’s conscious roots output. By that point the imprint already had a small but steady catalogue behind it, including earlier Zacharri-led releases and other roots and culture work that kept its name moving in the reggae circuit.

The riddim itself stays firmly in foundation territory: warm bass, restrained drums, and a steady skank that leaves space for the voices and the message. It is not chasing crossover polish or heavy digital tricks. The arrangement feels like a conscious roots cut made for chanting, with enough swing to keep the whole thing moving without crowding the singers.

Ras Zacharri opens the set with “Put Down Di Guns, ” and that title says exactly where the energy is headed. Sizzla follows with “Aint Nothing Wrong, ” bringing his familiar militant, sermon-like delivery to a backdrop that suits his conviction. Chezidek’s “Stepping With Fari” adds a more melodic, uplift-heavy touch, the kind of roots phrasing he has long made his own. The title track closes the circle and underlines the project as a label statement rather than just a loose bundle of songs.

For a 2019 roots release, the lineup makes sense: three artists who already live in the conscious lane, each approaching the same rhythm from a slightly different angle. The result is a short, direct set that keeps its message locked on anti-violence and righteous living.