New Moon Riddim – Adidjahiem And Notnice Records

New Moon Riddim comes out of the Adidjahiem/Notnice corner of dancehall, the Vybz Kartel and Ainsley “Notnice” Morris partnership that dominated a huge run of Gaza-era recordings in the late 2000s and early 2010s. By 2011, Notnice had already built a reputation for crisp, digital-forward productions that worked hard on sound systems and in the streets, and this one sits neatly in that catalogue.

The riddim has that sharp, airless Portmore Empire pulse: hard drums, a brisk, forward-moving groove, and just enough melodic sheen to keep the instrumental from sounding bare. It is the sort of pattern that leaves room for deejay cadences to cut through cleanly, which is exactly why the lineup works. Vybz Kartel’s “Colouring Book” brings the most immediately memorable hook, turning schoolbook imagery into a sly, slyly aggressive dancehall statement. Popcaan’s “No Sponsor” is the other key cut, pushing his early voice in the exact period when he was moving from promising Gaza talent into a major name. Sheba’s “Tough Chat” appears in both raw and radio versions, giving the riddim some extra range, while Shawn Storm’s “Tell Everybody” keeps the energy on the militant side. The closing combination of Singa Blinga and Lenny Matyk on “Badmind” widens the sound without breaking the flow.

What makes the release click is the balance between Kartel’s heavyweight presence and the younger Gaza voices around him. It feels less like a loose compilation than a snapshot of a crew in full motion, with each cut feeding the same tense, confident mood.