Project X Riddim (2003) – Vp Records

VP Records kept the Project X riddim in its early-2000s dancehall lane, and the set lands in 2003 as part of the label’s Riddim Driven run. The rhythm was produced by Philip Smart, the veteran engineer and producer whose work helped shape modern Jamaican sound on both sides of the street and the studio. In that context, Project X feels very much like a New York-to-Kingston bridge: bright, clipped, and built for juggling, with a hard bounce underneath the hooks.

The standout voices give the riddim its personality. Ce’Cile turns “A So Mi Like It” into one of those sharp, cheeky female dancehall cuts that made her name in the 2000s, and Christopher’s “She’s On Fire” brings a smoother, flirtier edge. Galaxy P’s “Halla Back” and Mr. Lexx’s “Survive” keep the energy in rude-boy territory, while Madd Anju’s “Try Fi Get Yu” and Powerman’s “Soakin” push the party mood even further. Sasha appears twice on the wider Project X set, and Vybz Kartel’s “Money and Gal” and Elephant Man’s “Stress Free” are the kind of heavyweight additions that helped these riddim albums travel.

What makes Project X work is the balance between swagger and melody. The beat leaves enough space for the DJs to chatter, tease, and double up on the rhythm, but it still has enough drive to keep the whole thing moving. It’s a snapshot of dancehall at a point when the riddim album was still one of the scene’s best ways to turn a beat into an event.