Selassie I Way Riddim – Israel Records

Selassie I Way Riddim has that meditative roots pulse that keeps pulling you back in. Israel Records frames it with a strong cast, but the cut that really anchors the project is Tarrus Riley and Kabaka Pyramid’s “Fly Di Gat, ” where polished melody meets that militant, message-heavy edge Kabaka was sharpening at the time. Jah9’s “Divine Government” sits in the same sweet spot, all forward-looking reasoning over a bassline that moves with patience, while Chronixx’s “Prayer” adds a hushed, spiritual finish to the set. The 2013 compilation was Israel Records’ first release, put together from Grafton Studios with T’Jean Bennett behind the production and Earl “Chinna” Smith on guitar, and you can hear that careful live-musician touch in the whole thing, right down to the instrumental tucked at the end.