Hitman Riddim – Ancient Mystic

By 2005, Ancient Mystic had already settled into that lean, roots-minded studio feel, and Hitman keeps that energy moving with a small but sharp five-cut lineup led by Alpha Rowen’s “Murder” and Prezident Brown’s conscious chant “Conscience Speak. ” The rhythm has that tense, hard-edged reggae pulse you’d expect from the title, while Anatalee’s “Want To Hold You” and Crystal Ink’s “Hooked On U’r Love” pull it into more melodic territory without softening the bite. Owen Rowe’s name sits behind the production throughout, and the set closes with the dub-style “Hitman Version, ” a tidy way to leave the riddim hanging in the air.