Kuff Riddim (2016) – Live And Direct Inc

Eight cuts deep and trimmed down to six voices, Kuff Riddim keeps the focus on a handful of familiar names rather than chasing sheer volume. Live And Direct Inc frame it with a lean, roots-leaning reggae swing that leaves plenty of room for the singers to ride the groove, and the best moments come when the arrangements stay spare enough for the patois phrasing and hooks to bite. Danny English on “Black Or White” and Merciless on Destiny’s “Gi It Weh” give the set its sharpest character, while Triston Palma’s “Suffering Time” adds some weathered weight to the mix. Little John and Glen Ricks keep the energy rolling, and Destiny circles back at the end with “Real Hot Gal, ” before the raw version of “Gi It Weh” closes things out with the instrumental left exposed.