Hypocrite Riddim (1996) – Stingray Records

Stingray Records in the mid-1990s was the UK/Jamaican-backed imprint of Carl McLeod and Ray McLeod, a outfit that pushed slick, radio-friendly reggae and dancehall while still working the classic juggling format. Hypocrite Riddim sits right in that lane, and 1996 is the right year for it. The cut list shows a mix of roots-minded singers and lovers rock voices, with Admiral Tibet’s “War And Crime” and Dennis Brown’s “Don’t Want To Loose Your Love” giving the rhythm its strongest emotional pull.

The track lineup also includes Lukie D on “No More For Me, ” Norberth Clarke on “Love Letters, ” Roger Robin on “Swimming In The Healing Stream, ” Sadiki on “So Sick, ” and Tony Curtis on “Power Of Love, ” with a version tucked in behind Admiral Tibbet’s label listing. That blend tells you a lot about the production: steady, warm bass, a plainspoken one-drop feel, and a melody line that leaves room for singers to work their phrasing. It is less about hard bashment pressure than about uplift, pleading, and relationship talk.

Dennis Brown is the heavyweight name here, and his presence lifts the whole riddim. Admiral Tibet brings the conscious edge, Lukie D adds the smoother modern tone, and Tony Curtis gives it a cleaner lovers-rock finish. This is one of those Stingray releases that feels designed for repeated juggling, with each singer finding a different angle on the same reflective backdrop.