Soulmon Riddim – A Massive Productions

A Massive Productions kept Soulmon Riddim in a straight-ahead reggae pocket in 2014, but there’s a rough, streetwise edge to it that fits Deadly Hunta’s “When” and Jah Child’s “Jamaica So Nice” especially well. The lineup is compact — seven cuts, seven artists — and that gives the whole set a nice, unhurried shape, with ‘Rseenal’s “Rise Up” and Blx’s “Down In The Ghetto” pushing the social side of the riddim a little harder. Mamakuna, Danilo feat. Ragno, and Mehditation each take their turn without crowding the space, which is part of the charm here; it feels like a small, carefully assembled session rather than a throwaway compilation. And yes, there’s even an Italian-language cut tucked in near the end.