Queen Majesty Riddim (2022) – Stingray Records

Queen Majesty Riddim finds Stingray Records working in a sweet, rootsy lane rather than chasing heavy modern dancehall pressure. The 2022 set landed as a digital release on the Stingray label, and the title nods to the classic rocksteady-era “Queen Majesty” lineage while giving the arrangement a fresh, singer-friendly polish. The groove sits in a mid-tempo pocket with a clean one-drop bounce, warm bass weight and enough open space for each vocalist to phrase naturally.

Stingray has long been linked to Robert Livingston, a key figure in Jamaican music business and production, and the label’s catalogue has tended to balance radio-ready hooks with sturdy reggae craftsmanship. That instinct is all over this session. Delly Ranx brings his sharp, seasoned singjay style to “Modern Flex, ” while Chardel Rhoden’s “Couldn’t Ask For More” settles neatly into lovers-rock sweetness. MediSun adds a conscious, healing tone on “Glory, ” shaping the riddim with a smoother, more meditative delivery.

Sandra Cross is an especially natural fit on “24, ” her London lovers-rock heritage giving the cut an easy emotional pull. The Blackstones bring heavyweight harmony tradition to “Queen Majesty, ” and George Dekker’s “Dynamite” links the project back to classic Jamaican vocal history. Yashema Mcleod’s “Guide Me” rounds out the set with a prayerful note. Taken together, it plays like a well-cast version excursion: polished, melodic and respectful of the old-school name it carries.