Lovable Riddim – Various Artists

Lovable Riddim leans away from the glossy, crossover-leaning dancehall that was starting to crowd the mid-2000s and stays close to a harder, more stripped-down yard sound, with Bounty Killer’s “As A Man” and Mavado’s “Sey Dem A Gangsta” doing most of the heavy lifting over a tight, clipped groove. Future Trouble’s “Tek Boy Gal” adds some cheek and motion to the set, while New Kids’ “Stress Free” keeps the mood lighter without breaking the riddim’s tension, and the version cut at the end leaves the pattern bare so you hear how much the bass and drum programming carry it. Issued in 2007, the release keeps the lineup compact at four vocal cuts plus the instrumental, which gives the riddim enough room to breathe without stretching itself thin.