High Top Riddim – Future Records

Future Records keeps High Top Riddim moving in a straight, no-nonsense dancehall lane, with the 2017 juggling pulling together 12 cuts from a mix of veteran singjays and younger voices. The rhythm has that hard-edged, midtempo snap that leaves room for the vocals to punch through, with a skanking bounce underneath and enough space in the drums and bass for selectors to work it in a set. It’s the kind of riddim that feels made for radio plays, sound system rotation, and quick-cut lyrical statements rather than glossy crossover polish.

The strongest pulls come from the familiar names. Capleton’s “Alright” brings his firebrand pressure to the rhythm, while Sizzla’s “Do the Maths” adds his quick, driving delivery and militant phrasing. Anthony B’s “Righteousness” sits comfortably in that conscious corner too, giving the riddim a moral-center point without softening the energy. Chuck Fenda’s “Worker” and Terry Ganzie’s “Over” keep the project rooted in straight talk, while Turbulance closes with the sharp-tongued “Done With You. ”

Younger or less mainstream voices like Jaztik, Ras Ghandi, Slehdjan, Dycr and Lion Man help widen the picture, and the more playful cuts, especially “Whine Like That” and “Whine up Yuh Body, ” give the rhythm a dancefloor edge. Taken together, High Top Riddim feels like a 2017 dancehall package that values grit, chant, and melody in equal measure.