Next Level Riddim – Kalashnikov Records

Kalashnikov Records’ Next Level Riddim lands in that 2007 dancehall stretch when the drum pattern was all about pressure and momentum, and this one keeps the energy tight across 11 cuts. Anthony B’s “Caan Put Hand Pon Mi” and Elephant Man’s “No Raper” are the obvious loudspeakers here, with both artists leaning into the kind of raw, confrontational talk that made these juggling sets hit hard in the first place. Sizzla’s “Ban Bad Mind” adds a sharper edge, while the unknown “Category 5” version rounds things out like a proper selector tool. It’s a compact one, but the tracklist shows Kalashnikov working with a strong mix of singjay firepower and straight-up dancehall attitude at a time when riddim culture was still driving the scene.