Medellin Cartel Riddim – T100 Records

T100 Records came into 2020 with Medellin Cartel Riddim as its first major dancehall production, and the concept fits the title: dark, streetwise, and built for badman storytelling. The riddim dropped on March 13, 2020, and runs at 100 BPM, which gives it that mid-tempo drive that leaves room for lyrics to cut through while still keeping enough bounce for the dance. The instrumental has a tense, brooding feel rather than a flashy one, which suits the cartel theme and the gunman-coded bravado threaded through the songs.

The strongest name on the project is Vybz Kartel, whose Tony Montanna had already been pushed ahead of the full release and drew early attention. Tommy Lee Sparta’s Timing brings his familiar grim delivery and ominous energy, while Lisa Hyper’s Griselda Blanco adds a sharp female counterpoint with that same outlaw framing. Sikka Rhymes comes in with Never See the Stop, another cut that sits comfortably in the riddim’s tense mood, and Savage’s Rich Badness Apply pushes the street-thug angle hard. Destiny Sparta’s Hot Gal Anthem gives the project a lighter but still aggressive club edge, and Krazy Flames closes with Never Scared, keeping the pressure on.

What makes Medellin Cartel Riddim click is the way T100 Records lets each voice work against the beat without overcomplicating the arrangement. It is a short, focused dancehall set, but one that gets its identity quickly: cartel imagery, hard talk, and a production built to sound cold, catchy, and ready for juggling.