Str88 Drop Riddim – Sound Blast Entertainment

Back in 2012, when dancehall was leaning hard on stripped-down street riddims and clipped, martial drum patterns, Sound Blast Entertainment put out Str88 Drop Riddim as a compact five-track set with four vocals and a version cut. Borderline handles two entries here, including the title track “Str88 Drop” and “Dem Fi Dead, ” while Miami Don’s “Play Badman” and Shady’s “My Friend Dem” keep the focus on tough talk and sharply paced delivery. There’s no clutter in the production: the riddim sits on a dry, forward-moving kick-snare pattern with a heavy bass pulse underneath, the kind of framework that leaves plenty of room for the singers to ride the pocket. The title cut and version track tie it all together with a brisk, no-frills swing that keeps the whole thing moving at a tight dancehall clip.