Speedometer Riddim Pt.2 (2015) – Jones Ave Records

Jones Ave Records followed up its 2014 Speedometer juggling with a Pt. 2 that keeps the concept moving and widens the circle. Released in 2015, the set pulls in some of the sharper names around dancehall at the time, with I-Octane, Konshens, Shawn Storm, Likkle Dainjah and Iya Champs all voicing over the same driving pattern. Jones Ave Records was already carving out a lane for clean, straightforward riddims, and this one lands with the same clipped, high-energy feel: a fast-stepping beat, tight drum programming and a buzzing synth line that gives the whole project a sense of forward motion.

The strongest cuts are the ones that play directly into each artist’s strengths. I-Octane’s Hype We Self brings his gruff, singjay command to a boastful tune that sits comfortably between street talk and party pull-up energy. Konshens’ People Gal adds a slicker, more commercial edge, with his melodic phrasing riding the rhythm in a way that feels built for rotation. Shawn Storm’s Dusty Up The Road keeps the tension on the roadman side of dancehall, while Likkle Dainjah’s Hot Now and Iya Champs’ Make Money give the riddim extra movement from younger voices. Vybz Kartel’s Bob Marly and The High Trees adds another layer of star power, and the instrumental closes the circle by showing how much the riddim itself does the heavy lifting.

What makes Speedometer Pt. 2 work is that it sounds made for juggling: lean, hard, and ready for the selector to move quickly from one pull-up to the next.