Santana Riddim – Lords Of The Rhythm Records

Lords Of The Rhythm Records keeps the Santana Riddim in straight 2012 dancehall territory, with a compact nine-track roll call that leans on melody and quick-hit hooks more than brute force. Di Sulvent’s “Bring Your Lovin to Me, ” Hook’s “Bet You Didnt Know, ” and Renegad’s “Cant Give Up” each come at the riddim from a slightly different angle, while Bugle and I-Octane give the set its clearest names. The version tucked at the end leaves the pattern intact enough to hear the shape of the production, which sits in that clean, mid-tempo pocket dancers could ride without the whole thing getting too glossy. But the strongest pull here is I-Octane’s “Black Woman, ” a cut that lands with the kind of authority that tends to define a riddim’s afterlife.