Omg Riddim – Penthouse Records

Penthouse Records opened 2011 with the OMG Riddim, a smooth dancehall set from Donovan Germain’s long-running label, the camp that helped define modern Jamaican production through a blend of roots, lovers rock and radio-ready dancehall. This one sits comfortably in that lane: polished, melodic and built for singers as much as deejays, with a warm, mid-tempo swing and a clean, keyboard-driven feel that gives the songs room to breathe.

Busy Signal’s Right Now is one of the sharpest entries, turning the riddim into a direct, current-day singalong without losing its edge. Marcia Griffiths and Queen Ifrica bring weight and contrast on Round And Round, pairing veteran poise with Queen Ifrica’s earthy delivery. Duane Stephenson’s Saving The Best and Sanchez’s I Won’t Surrender push the lovers side of the project, while Torch’s Wanna Know and D-Major’s The Only One keep the riddim moving with slick, contemporary phrasing. Exco Levi’s Bleaching Shop adds a more pointed social angle, and Chuck Fenda’s Me Babymother Friend brings the tougher, streetwise tone that always gives a Penthouse juggling some bite.

The lineup also reflects how Germain worked his catalogue: trusted voices like Busy Signal, Marcia Griffiths, Sanchez and Richie Stephens alongside newer-era regulars such as Chevaughn, Coppa Cat, Shuga and Torch. Kurt Riley’s Omg Riddim Mega Mix helps frame it as a true juggling project, not just a one-off compilation. It’s a polished 2011 release with enough variety to keep both radio and sound systems interested.