Scrub Down Riddim – Starvybz Entertainment

Scrub Down Riddim keeps things in a warm, straight-ahead reggae pocket, the kind of mid-tempo groove that leaves plenty of room for the vocals to do the heavy lifting. Starvybz Entertainment lined up a neatly balanced cast here, with Tinga Stewart’s “A Kiss Is Just A Kiss, ” Miss Melody’s “All Night Long, ” and Tony Douglas’ “Long Time” giving the set some veteran weight, while Vincent Nap’s “Hustling and Bustling” and Harmonie Deja’s “Melanin” push it toward a more contemporary, roots-conscious feel. The closer, “Ghetto Life” from Various Artists, ties the whole thing back to everyday survival and street-level realism, which is where a lot of 2016 reggae riddims were landing. It’s a compact nine-track release, and the appeal is in how quietly steady it stays rather than trying to chase a flashier dancehall charge.