Solid Ground Riddim – Addis Records

Rough-hewn roots: Addis Records keeps Solid Ground Riddim in that mid-2000s conscious reggae pocket, with a compact six-track line-up that leans on message music more than flash. Fantan Mojah opens with “Change, ” and the set stays on that serious footing through Luciano’s “Overdue, ” Natural Black’s “Get Ready, ” and Perfect’s “8 Gangstas, ” with Jennifer Barrett’s “Mr. Jacket And Tie” adding a sharper social edge. The riddim itself is presented as the kind of sturdy, no-nonsense backdrop that leaves space for the singers to lean into the lyrics, and the package is tight enough that there’s no dead weight around it. If there’s a track that carries the weight here, it’s Luciano’s “Overdue, ” with Fantan Mojah’s opener setting the tone before the version cut closes the circle.