King Hi-Fi Tempo Riddim – Kings Hi-Fi

King Hi-Fi’s Tempo Riddim landed in 2020 as a small but sharply defined sound system release from the Brighton-based crew. Kings Hi-Fi have long worked in the UK dub and reggae lane, and that roots-forward foundation is audible here: heavyweight bass, a stripped-back skank, clipped percussion, and enough space for the vocals to ride the groove without crowding it. It feels made for juggling and rewinds rather than polished radio gloss.

The centerpiece is “Wicked and Wild” with Natty Campbell, a London MC who has become a familiar voice across UK reggae and sound system sessions. His delivery gives the riddim its bite, while “Left Behind” brings Vixen Sound into the circle with a more chant-heavy, roots-conscious energy. The instrumental is included too, which matters on a set like this; the riddim has the kind of low-end pressure and clean arrangement that lets selectors stretch it out, then flip into the dub and remix versions when the dance is locked in.

The extra mixes underline that this was treated as a proper sound system package, not just a lone single. The Vinney Satta Dub mix and Jamie Bostron remix keep the same framework but push it into deeper dubwise terrain, while the Akua remix adds another angle without losing the original’s heft. Tempo Riddim is not overloaded, but it does what a good Kings Hi-Fi production should do: sound purposeful, lean hard on bass, and leave a lasting hook in a short runtime.