Problem Riddim – Various Artists

Ayana John’s “Suite Me Fine” is the tune that pulls the ear first here, and that’s fitting on a three-song 2005 reggae set where the vocal turns have to do most of the heavy lifting. The Problem Riddim leans into a lean, straight-ahead groove with enough bounce to keep the songs moving, but not so much polish that it loses the raw backyard feel of mid-2000s Jamaican singles. Leann ft. Bruce on “She Dont Matter” brings a more conversational edge, while Pyper’s “Problems” gives the riddim its name in the bluntest way possible, cutting right to the tension in the title. It’s a small release, but that was part of the era’s charm: compact rhythm packages, a few strong voices, and production meant to live or die on the strength of the cut.