Intel Riddim – Hitsquad Studios

Intel Riddim sits in the middle of Hitsquad Studios’ 2019 dancehall run, and it’s a lean one: eight cuts, five artists, with the producer keeping the focus on the groove instead of overloading the set. Double Standard opens with “Ghetto Anthem, ” while Ghage Maddis turns up twice on “Weather For Two” in both clean and raw versions, and Spanish does the same with “Love You, ” which tells you this was cut with the dancefloor and selector play in mind. The riddim has that taut, contemporary dancehall pressure, skittery enough to keep moving but heavy in the low end, leaving room for hooks like Auntunique’s “Independant” and Jumbee’s “Bruk Out” to land cleanly. Hitsquad Studios keeps the package tight here: one riddim, a compact vocal lineup, and the usual clean/raw pairings across the release.