Seekout Riddim – Aleada Records

Sliding in with a straight 2013 dancehall charge, Seekout Riddim from Aleada Records leans on a compact eight-track cast that keeps the energy tight and the focus on the groove. I Wayne and Wayne Marshall are the names that jump out, with I Wayne linking up with Keekee Capone on “Danger” and Marshall riding “Jah Bless Mi, ” while Ata Ru, Erup, Esco, Fyakin, and Jahbert each add their own take on the same backing. The version cut is there too, which usually tells you the producer wanted the riddim to speak for itself. The music sits in that clean, mid-tempo dancehall pocket, driven by a spare drum pattern and a rounded bassline that leaves enough room for the vocals to cut through without crowding the rhythm.