Mexican Riddim (2001) – Pot Of Gold

Mexican Riddim arrived in 2001 from Pot of Gold, the label built by Richie Stephens, the Jamaican singer and producer who had already moved from recording artist to behind-the-board operator by the end of the 1990s. By then, Pot of Gold had become a real outlet for his work, and this riddim sits right in that run of early-2000s dancehall production. The tracklist attached to the release matches the version that circulated with cuts from Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, Mr. Vegas, Lexxus, Richie Stephens, Bling Dawg, Copper Cat, Nitty Kutchie, Degree, Chrissy D and Professor Nuts.

The riddim itself has that early-2000s juggling snap: bright, percussive, and charged with a Latin-flavoured bounce that gives the whole set its title. It feels built for the sound system era, with enough space in the drum pattern for deejays to ride the pocket and enough forward motion to keep the dance moving. That sort of arrangement made Pot of Gold a good home for voices that could cut through a busy mix.

Bounty Killer’s “Cannibal” brings the rawest edge, while Elephant Man’s “Dem A Plan” pushes the energy up with his usual animated delivery. Mr. Vegas, on “Bun Dem, ” and Lexxus, on “Money A Spend, ” play to the riddim’s party pulse, and Richie Stephens’ own “Girls Night” adds a smoother, more melodic contrast. Copper Cat, Nitty Kutchie, Bling Dawg, Degree, Chrissy D and Professor Nuts fill out the session with the kind of variety that made this era of dancehall so easy to juggle in a dance.