Rasta Riddim – Dollar Production

Dollar Production keeps this 2007 set rooted in straightforward roots reggae, but the casting gives it plenty of life. Anthony B’s “Too Hype, ” Fantan Mojah and I Ford’s “Blood Of My People, ” and Frankie Paul’s “Way Of Life” sit right at the center, with Junior X’s “Legalize It” and Perfect’s “Badmind” pushing the same conscious edge. One small but telling detail: the project opens with Anthony B and closes on Zareb’s “Vanity Lovers, ” so the sequence moves from hard-nosed social commentary into something a little more reflective. There are ten tracks in all, and the order feels arranged to keep the energy steady rather than stacking the biggest names up front.