Shank I Sheck Riddim (Dancehall Version) – Jammys Records

Out of Kingston in the late-’80s dancehall moment, this Shank I Sheck cut circles back to one of the old reliable Jamaican foundation riddims and gives it a harder, sparer Jammys feel. The link between King Jammy and Chaka Demus is the kind of pairing that makes sense the second you hear it: the track’s bounce has that clipped, digital edge under a voice that’s all attitude, while Johnny P and Papa San push the same groove in different directions, one more sly and streetwise, the other riding it with sharper deejay fire. Higgs and Twins and Thriller U add a couple of cleaner melodic turns to the set, and “Greatest Version” keeps the rhythm section in the spotlight where it belongs, almost like a producer’s calling card tucked at the end.