Spread Out Riddim – Walshy Fire | Smokey Jamakino

Walshy Fire and Smokey Jamakino keep this 2017 Spread Out Riddim moving in a tight, four-song run that sits squarely in modern dancehall but leaves room for different personalities to come through. The lineup is lean: Skinny Fabulous opens with the title cut, Stiffy brings the sharp-edged “No Behavior, ” Masicka turns in the strongest pull on “Balance, ” and E. C. closes with “Imagine. ” Walshy Fire’s role as producer/presenter gives the set a polished, club-ready sheen, the kind of clean compression and heavy pocket that suits a short riddim EP rather than a sprawling compilation. It’s the sort of release that lives on contrast — Skinny Fabulous’ confident opener, Stiffy’s rougher stance, Masicka’s cooler command — before Masicka’s “Balance” leaves the deepest mark.