High Definition Riddim – Fireball Edutainment

Fireball Edutainment’s High Definition Riddim landed in April 2017 as the label’s first international push, and it wears that moment well: a classic one-drop set with enough voice and variation to keep it moving. Elementree’s title cut locks into the groove with a clean, stripped-back feel, while Jah Mason’s “Don’t Walk Away” and Turbulence’s “Live and Never Die” give the project a heavier roots edge. There’s some nice contrast too, from Stacia’s bright “I’m Alive” to Tiwony’s more pointed “Don’t Shoot, ” which keeps the riddim from settling into one mood for too long. Fireball Edutainment, based in Cleveland, clearly aimed this one at a wider reggae audience, and with 16 tracks clocking in at just over an hour, it has the feel of a proper calling card for the label.