Rival Riddim – Scuare Wan Records And Avikon Records

Rival Riddim came out in 2014 from Scuare Wan Records and Avikon Records, two Kingston-side dancehall outfits that were active in the mid-2010s and kept feeding the juggling circuit with street-ready singles. Avikon was already tied to a run of young-deejay and radio-friendly dancehall releases, while Scuare Wan had a similar independent, grassroots feel, with the kind of productions that live or die on how hard the rhythm hits in a dance.

This one is built on a sharp, militant dancehall pattern with a clipped, urgent pulse and enough space for voicing to cut through. The tracklist tells the story: Ding Dong turns up twice with “Syva” in clean and raw versions, which makes sense for a tune aimed at both radio and raw dancehall settings. Chi Ching Ching’s “Fight Fi Spot” brings his playful, animated delivery to the front, while Munga’s cut with Tyme Lyne goes harder and more confrontational. Cr3’s “Weh Dem A Prove” and Unycorn and Mgee’s “Ova Take Dem” keep the clash energy moving, and Kai with Jehvy Sparkxx add another gun-talk turn on “Rise Up The Rifle Dem. ”

Ding Dong and Chi Ching Ching give the riddim its biggest pull because both artists were already known for crowd-moving dancehall that works on first listen. The clean/raw split on Ding Dong’s song also suggests a release designed for selectors, not just casual streaming. Rival Riddim is a straight dancehall juggling piece with attitude, aimed at sound systems, street rotation, and artists who know how to ride a bare-bones beat without overloading it.