One Gang Riddim (2016) – Prolific Records

There’s a tight, no-frills dancehall swing running through One Gang Riddim, the kind of bare-bones juggling that leaves plenty of room for the vocals to carry the weight. Prolific Records keeps the package lean with just four songs around the instrumental, and that gives the cut from Rudie Rich, Can’T Stop This, a nice edge against the stripped-back bounce. A2’s Thumbs Up and Young Dyamond’s High Grade keep the energy moving in different pockets, while J Luga’s Highest On The Land adds a more rooted, upward-looking tone. It’s the sort of 2016 dancehall set that feels like it came straight out of a small-session studio run, all pulse and attitude, with the instrumental tacked on at the end for good measure.