Sex Mate Riddim – Markus Records

Markus Records’ Sex Mate Riddim landed in 2014 as a sharp, digitally minded dancehall juggling from a label that has made its name on clean, modern production and sound-system-ready arrangements. The set is tied to Markus Myrie, who has been active on the production side while also working around dancehall as a recording artist himself.

The riddim draws on a glossy mid-tempo groove with enough space for melody and enough bounce for straightforward juggling. It has the kind of polished, contemporary feel that sits comfortably between radio and street play, with the instrumental doing a lot of the work before the vocals even come in. That balance gives the release its shape: slick but not sterile, firmly dancehall, with a romantic edge that matches the title.

The featured cuts are I-Octane’s “Your Eyes, ” Mavado’s “Tie Yuh” in raw form, Tifa’s “Out Of This World” in clean and raw versions, and Denyque’s “Until You Come. ” I-Octane fits naturally here, singing about desire with the smooth, direct phrasing he’s long used on relationship songs. Mavado brings a tougher, more commanding tone to “Tie Yuh, ” which gives the riddim a little more bite. Tifa’s contribution is the most playful in title and delivery, while Denyque adds a softer, more sensual side that rounds out the vibe without changing the mood.

It is a small lineup, but each voice lands on a different angle of the same theme, and that is what gives Sex Mate Riddim its pull.