My Boy Lollipop Riddim (2005) – Voice Stream Production

Skanking lightly, this 2005 Voice Stream Production cut leans on a familiar old-school title but the draw is really the mix of singers it pulls in around it. Anthony B kicks off with “Burning Fire, ” while Luciano, George Nooks and Everton Blender keep the tone rooted in conscious reggae rather than anything too glossy or crossover-minded. There’s a little friction and flavor in the lineup too, with Lady G alongside M. Diamond on “Want A Man, ” Queen I-frica on “Plain Clothes Rasta, ” and Jah Mason and Turbulence pushing things with their own warm, devotional edge. The tracklist also nods back to Millie Small’s original “My Boy Lollipop, ” which hangs over the whole set as a ska-era reference point, but the 2005 interpretations stay firmly in modern roots mode. Tony Rebel’s “Luv U Baby” is the one that leaves the strongest aftertaste.