Life Reflections Riddim – Markus Records

Markus Records frames Life Reflections Riddim with a neat 2012 dancehall set that feels more reflective than rowdy, and that tone suits the title right down to the bone. The real pull is how the voices play against the riddim: Jah Vinci’s “Super Hero” and Khago’s “Touch Offa Mi” carry that extra bit of urgency, while Masicka’s “Enjoy Life” and D’Angel’s “Believe In Yourself” lean into the motivational angle without sounding preachy. Voicemail’s “Y. O. L. O. ” keeps the project current to its moment, too, and Markus Myrie himself closes it out with the instrumental version, a small detail that gives the whole thing a producer’s signature. Seven tracks, 22 minutes, and a sharp little snapshot of early-2010s dancehall.