Herbsman Hustling Riddim – Phareal Records

Already leaning into that deep herb man groove, Herbsman Hustling Riddim catches Phareal Records revisiting Sugar Minott’s classic “Herbsman Hustling” with a 2013 reggae set that keeps the message front and center. The project is driven by a veteran-heavy lineup, with names like Jimmy Riley, Linval Thompson, Ronnie Davis and Trinity rubbing shoulders with Lady Ann, Prince Allah and Iyah Thunder. A 2012 writeup on the original rollout described it as a bass-fueled riddim voiced by 18 artists, so this one clearly had enough room for both old-school chants and more contemporary juggling. What’s interesting here is the sequencing: the tracklist keeps moving between ganja songs, protest tunes and dancehall talk, so the producer seems to have ordered it like a conversation rather than a straight parade of name-brand cuts.