Jahma Riddim – Reggae Es Vida Productions

Jahma Riddim from Reggae Es Vida Productions lands in that roots-forward pocket where the groove is carrying the message, and this one feels especially geared toward conscious Spanish-language reggae with voices like I Jahdan Taurus on “Full Time, ” Sgt Remo on “Mama Don’t Cry, ” and Tarmac closing with “Rastaman. ” The lineup has a nice spread of artists from across the scene — Balaguero, Cresposalem featuring Revel, Jah Red Lion, Jose Dolores, Samuel Ethi — but the emotional center comes from the way the cuts sit against each other, moving from uplift and social commentary to heavier devotional and everyday struggles. A Chilean production house was behind the project, and the 2013 release was circulated as a free download, which fits the era’s grassroots riddim culture. The tracklist runs nine songs deep, ending with Tarmac’s “Rastaman. ”