New Boxing Riddim – Soulove

Macka B’s “Rastafari Say Love” feels like the anchor here, and it sets the tone for a Boxing Riddim that keeps things more roots-reggae than straight dancehall. Soulove lines up Anthony John, Forelock, Skarra Mucci, Soullee B and Teacha Dee around a compact six-track set, with Forelock’s “No Money” and Skarra Mucci’s title cut giving the project its sharper edges. The production comes from Soulove Records out of Ferrara, the outfit tied to DJ Afghan and guitarist Marci Lee Valdez, and that background shows in the clean, band-minded feel of the riddim. At just over 25 minutes, it moves quickly, but Macka B’s “Rastafari Say Love” leaves the strongest aftertaste.