Ice Cold / Makatak Riddim – Penitentiary Records

Out of Jamaica’s early-2000s dancehall shuffle comes Penitentiary Records’ Ice Cold/Makatak riddim, a tight 2004 set that sits in that rattling, mid-tempo era when hardcore slackness and sharper street talk shared the same drum pattern. The lineup has enough variety to keep it moving: Antony B’s “Nine Yard, ” Norris Man’s “Some Time, ” Lukie D’s “Get It On, ” and the Lexxus cut “Keep It Low” all ride the groove differently, while Vybz Kartel’s pairing with Chrissy on “Wasting My Time” gives the project its most talked-about pull. Junior Kelly’s “So Sh Seh” is the one that lingers longest, bringing a cooler, more melodic edge against the riddim’s grimy pulse and leaving the set with real weight.