Loco Riddim – Soul Circle Music

Soul Circle Music’s Loco Riddim lands in that sweet spot where modern dancehall polish meets a proper juggling spirit. The production sits on a sharp, driving groove with enough space for each artist to stamp their own personality on it, and the 2020 set gathers some of the scene’s most recognisable voices without feeling bloated. The release runs with Agent Sasco, Chronixx, Elephant Man, I Waata, Kelissa and Mr. Williamz, while the remix pairing of Sasco with Kabaka Pyramid and Bounty Killer gives the project its biggest headline moment.

Sasco’s own “Loco” is the anchor, but the riddim really opens up once Chronixx steps in with “So Brutal” and “Television Is The Worst, ” where his measured delivery rides the beat with more commentary than braggadocio. Elephant Man’s “Ele Way” brings back the rude-boy energy he has carried for years, while I Waata’s “No Lie” keeps the thing in the raw, current dancehall lane. Kelissa’s “Step Out Bravely” adds a cleaner, more uplifting tone, and Mr. Williamz closes things with “Rich, ” leaning into the kind of crossover reggae-dancehall style he has built a career on.

Released in November 2020, Loco Riddim fits neatly into Soul Circle Music’s catalogue as a vocal showcase rather than a throwaway rhythm package. It has the feel of a producer-led statement piece: rooted in hardcore dancehall, but broad enough to let singers, deejays and veterans all find a different angle on the same instrumental.