Revenge Riddim (2007) – 3.5.7 Records

Dark and jagged, the Revenge Riddim leans into that mid-2000s dancehall tension with a lean, gritty pulse that leaves room for the deejays to cut through hard. 3. 5. 7 Records keeps the cast tight: Anthony B pushes the anti-nerve “Its All Fi Di Nucky, ” Beenie Man links with Barbee on the cheeky “Give It Up, ” while Vybz Kartel’s “Gimmie Now” and T. O. K. ’s “Come Out A Di Dance” give the set its biggest jolt. Mad Cobra and Mr. Easy add more streetwise swagger, and the version itself keeps the instrumental in the air long after the voices drop out. Although some listings place it in 2007 and others in 2008, it sits right in that era when dancehall riddims were sharpening their edges and chasing the dance floor with leaner, meaner arrangements.