Migraine Riddim – Penthouse Records

Migraine Riddim lines up 12 cuts around one of Penthouse’s sharper mid-2000s dancehall sets, with Assassin, Queen Ifrica, Spragga Benz and Voicemail among the names carrying the load. The rhythm has that clean, taut Penthouse feel rather than anything overworked: crisp drum programming, a lean bassline and enough tension in the arrangement to keep the vocals moving without crowding them. I Octane’s “Stepassed” and Shane O’s “Stop The Killing” sit nicely against the tougher chat from Assassin and Spragga, while Queen Ifrica and Torch give the project a more pointed edge. Penthouse, founded by Donovan Germain in Kingston in 1988, was already deep into its run by this point, and the closing version lets the riddim breathe on its own after the singers and deejays have done their damage.

Migraine Riddim Tracklist:

1. Assassin – Cha La La La
2. Hawkeye – Thanks For Life
3. I Octane – Stepassed
4. Nikki Burt – Horny
5. Queen Ifrica – Dem Crazy
6. Red Rat – Friday
7. Red Square – Big Mix Up
8. Shane O – Stop The Killing
9. Spragga Benz – Hole For Yourself
10. Torch – They Cant Stop Me
11. Voicemail – See It Clear
12. Version – Migraine Riddim