Shella Riddim (2013) – Lockcity Records And Truckback Records

Lockecity and Truckback were already making a name for themselves around the Jamaican dancehall circuit in 2013, and Shella Riddim lands right in that run with a compact seven-song set that keeps the focus on sharp-cut party chat and streetwise bragging. Ding Dong’s “Size Up” is the obvious spark here, with Frisco Kid’s title cut and Artical’s “Clean And Out” giving the riddim a tougher, more playful edge, while Ataru and Tajji keep the energy moving without clutter. Compared with the duo’s earlier Wappings work, this one feels a little leaner and more pointed, less about packing in names than about locking onto a single, wiry groove and letting the voices ride it. It sits neatly in the middle of the Lockecity/Truckback catalogue from that period, when the pair were turning out dancehall riddims with a strong local pulse and plenty of crossover potential.