Island Roots Riddim (2015) – Don Corleon

Don Corleon returned to the juggling game in early 2015 with Island Roots Riddim, a four-cut reggae set issued on his Don Corleon Records imprint. The release landed on February 3, 2015, and the lineup pairs Ce’Cile’s Loyal, Shaggy’s You Lied, Pressure’s Once Again, and Jah Melody’s Over You.

The rhythm has a warm, rootical pulse that sits closer to lovers-rock and modern roots than hard dancehall. It moves at an easy mid-tempo pace, with a polished, airy mix that leaves space for melody and harmony rather than crowding the vocal. That clean Don Corleon touch is the point: steady drums, rounded bass, and a refined backdrop that lets the singers carry the emotion.

Shaggy and Ce’Cile give the riddim its biggest pull, but the strongest interest comes from how different each voice uses the same framework. Shaggy’s You Lied brings his familiar sing-jay ease to a song built for radio and party selectors alike. Ce’Cile gives Loyal a softer, more intimate edge. Pressure’s Once Again fits naturally into the roots side of his catalogue, while Jah Melody’s Over You adds a more reflective finish.

For Don Corleon, Island Roots Riddim sits neatly alongside the producer’s better-known juggling work: a streamlined, melodically rich set that favours feel over volume and keeps the spotlight on the songwriters.