Soul Deep Riddim – Nice Up Productions

“My Time” by Collin Wyatt is the track that pulls you in first on Soul Deep Riddim, because it sits right in that sweet spot where Nice Up Productions keeps the soca energy bright without rushing the groove. The 2013 juggling spreads the spotlight across a strong Caribbean cast — Benjaminz, Chantty Natural, GQ, Jah Rain and others — but Wyatt’s cut gives the set a clean entry point, and Benjaminz’s “Should Have Been Me” has that same direct, heartfelt pull. Nice Up, based in the UK and tied here to Tommy Waddington, leans into a polished island sound rather than anything overly flashy, which lets the vocals do the talking. There’s a nice bit of variety too, from Frazz Kidd and Terex’s cheekier “Bad Inna Di Bed” to Shenko Nashinal’s sharper “Chasing The Paper, ” a small but lively 17-track run.