Ruffian Riddim – Vertex Productions

Vertex Productions kept the Ruffian Riddim tight and focused in 2006, dropping just four cuts and leaning on a frontline of conscious voices rather than a crowded juggling. Fantan Mojah’s “Don’t Bow Out” is the one that jumps out first, with Norris Man’s “Got To Take Charge” and Xray’s “Can’t Drop The Baton” carrying the same defiant, on-your-feet energy, while Bescenta’s “Can You Handle It” adds another angle to the set. Coming after the earlier I Believe Riddim from the same camp, Ruffian feels like a companion piece: less about volume, more about message and discipline. It sits neatly in Vertex’s mid-2000s reggae catalogue, where the production favors a compact, militant feel and leaves the singers plenty of room to press their point.