Out Of Many Riddim – Upsetta Records/Loud City

Out Of Many Riddim arrived in 2019 from Upsetta Records and Loud City Music, a pairing that had already been building a strong run of reggae releases together. The two imprints had linked on Love Vibration earlier that year, and this follow-up sat in the same lane of roots-minded digital reggae with a modern radio edge.

The riddim moves with a smooth one-drop bounce, warm bass, clipped guitar skanks and a polished mix that leaves plenty of room for vocals. It has enough swing for singers, but the drum pattern and arrangement also give the dancehall voices on it somewhere solid to land. The mood is uplifting without turning sugary, and the title fits the message running through the songs: pressure, survival, self-worth and forward motion.

Romain Virgo’s “Dutty Man” is one of the cleanest pulls here, with his polished tenor carrying the tune through a straightforward social commentary. Jesse Royal’s “Weight On Your Shoulders” brings a more conscious, reflective tone, while Tommy Lee Sparta’s “Tomorrow’s A Better Day” gives the project its sharpest crossover moment by folding his edge into a hopeful message. Kumar’s “Change” and Royal Blu’s “Woman” deepen the set on the more melodic side, and Capital D, Jah Izrehl, Don Husky and Oriel help widen the palette without breaking the riddim’s flow.

It is a well-judged juggling where the voices do different work, but the riddim stays cohesive throughout.