Hawaii Riddim (2017) – DJ Sky Records

DJ Sky Records kept Hawaii Riddim in a mid-tempo dancehall pocket, the kind of juggling that leaves room for melody, attitude, and quick-fire phrasing rather than nonstop aggression. The release landed in 2017 as a six-track EP, with the producer credit firmly attached to DJ Sky Records and an Apple Music date of August 17, 2017. That lines up with the label’s run of dancehall projects in the same period, where it was issuing riddims and singles with a straightforward, digital-first approach.

The voiced cuts point to a mix of Jamaican and Trinidadian personalities. Bramma brings the rawest street edge here, and the fact that “Middle Finger” appears in both clean and raw versions says plenty about where the record is trying to live: unfiltered dancehall with radio-friendly packaging alongside it. Khago is the other heavyweight name on the set, and his “You and I” gives the riddim a more melodic, relationship-driven angle. Zagga’s “Worry Me” draws on his smoother, conscious-leaning style, while Ganggoolie’s “Happy Again” adds a lighter, more playful touch. College Boy Jesse broadens the field further with “Bestie, ” which fits his Trinidad and Tobago background and his knack for bright, catchy party music.

What makes Hawaii Riddim interesting is the contrast between the songs’ different personalities and the production’s steady pulse. It feels designed for juggling rather than brute force, with enough bounce for selector work and enough open space for hooks to land. The result is a neat snapshot of late-2010s dancehall, where one rhythm could hold street talk, romance, and social-media-ready sing-alongs without breaking stride.