Rats Riddim – Various Artists

A compact six-cut set, Rats Riddim leans on a small but varied lineup: Anya ft. Kakale and Al and Nigel Nicolas on “Yeah Yeah, ” Brownsman’s “Carnival We Love, ” Emrand Henry’s “Still Standing, ” plus turns from Reptile and King Gob and Sexy J and Jessica. The tracklist suggests a 2005 mid-2000s dancehall session where the version is as important as the songs, and the title points to a gritty, cheeky theme running through the project. The production feels like that era’s bare-knuckle Kingston approach: clipped drums, a nagging minor-key motif, and a low, rubbery bassline that leaves plenty of room for the singers and deejays to ride the pocket. It’s the kind of riddim that moves at a brisk clip but stays weighty, with the vocal performances sitting right on top of the bass rather than fighting it.