Rusty Cann Riddim – Kirkledove Records

Kirkledove Records’ Rusty Cann Riddim landed in 2013 as another chapter in Kirk Bennett’s long run as a drummer, producer and label owner working under the Kirkledove banner. Bennett has been active in the reggae and dancehall scene since the mid-2000s, and this riddim sits squarely in the part of his catalogue that keeps the sound-system pulse alive while still chasing the kind of artist roster that can move a juggling project.

The rhythm has that rough-edged, metallic dancehall feel its title suggests: hard drum programming, a clipped bass line, and enough open space for deejays to cut through without overcrowding the beat. It is the sort of production that works best when voices come in with personality rather than polish. General Degree brings his sharp, veteran patter to “Bubble, ” while Mr. Lexx’s “Dat Nuh Bad” adds the familiar East Kingston swagger that made him such a fixture in late-90s dancehall. Hawkeye’s “Matches Stick” and Danny English’s “Fresh” keep the energy bouncing, and Mr. G’s “Can’t Tek Bun” and Power Man’s “Hands Up Deh” push the tune deeper into straight-to-the-dancefloor territory.

Nikki B’s “All I Have To Give” and G Blunt’s “Gal Dem Love The Blunt” widen the palette, with Wippa Demus’ “Get Crazy Gal” and Kirk Bennett’s instrumental version rounding out the set. It is a riddim built for juggling rather than spectacle, with the strongest cuts coming from the artists who lean into the beat’s raw, percussive attack instead of trying to smooth it out.