Make It Gwan Riddim – Flash Hit Records

Flash Hit Records came out swinging with Make It Gwan, the label’s first production, and it already had that slightly polished French-rooted reggae feel: deep roots pressure with enough digital shine to keep the arrangement moving. The lineup is strong without being overcrowded in the wrong way, with Lutan Fyah’s “Stand Firm, ” Skarra Mucci’s “Steppin Outta, ” and Carl Meeks’ “Rasta” giving the riddim its clearest anchor points, while Pressure and Real Mckoy’s “Open Your Eyes” and Jah Rain’s “I Got to Survive” keep the mood firmly conscious. Released in 2012, the project also leans on a couple of sharp contrasts, like the French-titled “Besoin d’aide” from Taïro and Ghost Rider’s title cut, which help widen the set’s reach. It sits neatly in Flash Hit’s early catalogue as a debut riddim that introduced the label’s taste for roots-heavy collaborations with a modern edge.