Sling Shot Riddim – Blaxx Records

2005 was a busy stretch for dancehall, when producers were still packing big voices onto one rhythm and letting the clash of styles do the heavy lifting. Sling Shot Riddim from Blaxx Records sits right in that pocket, with Beenie Man’s “Privately, ” Sean Paul and Looga Man’s “Fresh, ” and Vybz Kartel’s “Ready Fi Dead” giving the set its pull. The riddim runs to nine cuts and eight named artists, which leaves room for a few mystery slots in the middle and gives the sequence a slightly loose, street-tape feel rather than a polished showcase. That rougher ordering suits the era, where the strongest names could carry a project even when the credits weren’t all pinned down.