S-Class Riddim (2010) – Notnice Records

Notnice Records had one of dancehall’s sharpest runs in the late 2000s and early 2010s, and S-Class Riddim sits right in that sweet spot. Released in 2010, the juggling pulls from the same Gaza-era energy that powered Notnice’s work with Vybz Kartel, Popcaan, Shawn Storm and the wider Portmore circle. It lands as a compact, punchy dancehall set with a sleek digital bounce and enough low-end pressure to keep the sound system moving.

The cut that tends to define it is Popcaan’s Tek Off, a song that helped cement his early breakout period and shows exactly why Notnice became such a trusted ear for him. Popcaan’s Happiness is lighter on its face but still rides the rhythm with that sly, singjay ease that made his early work so appealing. Vybz Kartel’s Gimme D Benz Punanny and Jump Inna D Benz bring the grime and swagger expected from the Kartel-Notnice pairing, while the Kartel and Sheba combination You An Him Deh adds a more conversational back-and-forth feel. Shawn Storm’s Nuh Idiot Gyal and Merital’s Mi Yard widen the project’s range, and Antwain’s Whine rounds out the set with a more direct dance-floor angle.

What makes the riddim work is its balance of sleekness and grit: crisp drums, a bouncing groove, and a feel made for selectors who like to juggle without losing momentum. It’s a snapshot of the era when Notnice was helping define the sound of the Gaza camp, and S-Class still sounds like a producer moving with confidence.