Quiet Storm Riddim (2016) – Deemus Prods

Cool breeze. Quiet Storm Riddim comes in as a clean 2016 Deemus Prods juggling board with eight cuts and a laid-back, rootsy pulse rather than any big studio fireworks. Gappy Ranks’ “Never Sell Me Out, ” Jah Vinci’s “My Heart, ” and Sizzla’s “From The Eastside” do a lot of the heavy lifting, with the latter leaning into a unity message that suits the mood of the riddim nicely. Compared with some of Deemus’ harder-edged dancehall work, this one sits in a softer, more reflective pocket, letting the singers carry the emotion over a steady backdrop. It’s the kind of release that fits neatly in the label’s reggae side of the catalogue, where melody and message matter as much as the rhythm itself.