Mhm Hm Riddim – Jones Ave Records

Jones Ave Records put out Mhm Hm Riddim in October 2017, and the juggling arrived with four voiced cuts that quickly gave it shape: Vybz Kartel’s title tune, Ishawna’s Walking Dead, I-Octane’s Ready When You Ready, and Bingi Banga’s Bad Before Raw. The release sits squarely in the modern dancehall tradition of one rhythm, multiple personalities, with the instrumental doing enough of the talking on its own.

The beat has a clipped, percussive swing and a dark, compact feel that leaves room for the deejays to work the pockets. Kartel’s Mhm Hm is the anchor, all sly phrasing and instant-recognition hook energy. Ishawna brings the attitude on Walking Dead, turning the riddim’s menace into a more playful, confrontational space. I-Octane’s cut gives the project some balance with a steadier, more measured delivery, while Bingi Banga’s Bad Before Raw pushes the raw edge of the juggling further.

Jones Ave Records was already active in the digital dancehall lane by then, and Mhm Hm Riddim fits that approach: tight packaging, familiar star power, and a rhythm that can travel well in the dance. The set got enough attention to land on major streaming platforms and in year-end reggae roundups, which tells you the title track did its job fast.