Kulcha Riddim – Black Kulcha Music

Kulcha Riddim is a little less rootsy than the name might suggest and a bit more in that bright, crossover reggae-dancehall pocket Black Kulcha Music was circling in 2013. The cleanest pull here is the lineup: Shatta Wale kicks off with “Tonite, ” while “The Truth” from Sonni Balli and “Show Some Love” from Konkarah keep the energy moving without crowding the riddim. There’s also a nice local pride streak running through tracks like “I’M An African” and “Miss Africa, ” which gives the whole set a firm cultural focus rather than just another dancehall workout. “Marijuana” by Scata Bada and “I Pray” by Blasto help round out the mood with a more reflective edge. It first surfaced in July 2013, and that timing puts it right in the middle of a busy year for Afro-reggae cuts coming out of the Black Kulcha camp.