Ruff Time Riddim – Brick House Records

Out of the 2012 roots swing that was moving through the scene, Ruff Time Riddim lands as one of Brick House Records’ quieter detours from dancehall into a more conscious, militant groove. It’s a lean five-song set, but the lineup does the heavy lifting: Erup opens with the stark “Hard Time, ” I-Octane cools things down on “It Set Away, ” and Lutan Fyah brings the kind of praise song that suits the riddim’s serious mood. There’s no wasted motion here, just a steady, bass-forward pattern that leaves room for the vocals to carry the weight. Norris Man’s “The Emperor Way” gives the cut its sharpest edge, though, and that track hangs over the whole thing with the kind of authority roots heads usually lock onto first.