Shadow After Dark Riddim – Big Ship Records

Shadow After Dark Riddim comes in as a tight 2008 Big Ship dancehall set with only two core cuts, and that lean setup gives the whole thing a sharp, no-waste feel. Aidonia and Chino link on “Pop It Off, ” while Vybz Kartel’s “What A Bwoy Can Chat” is the heavier draw, each tune appearing in clean and raw versions, so the riddim gets a little extra room to flex its grimy edge before Stephen McGregor closes it out with the title cut. McGregor, working under the Big Ship banner, keeps the production focused and dark, with that clipped, street-level energy you’d expect from this period in mid-2000s dancehall. The release runs five tracks in total, with four unique artists across the board.