Sweetness Riddim (2009) – House Of Hits Records

House Of Hits keeps the Sweetness Riddim fairly lean and melodic here, with seven cuts in 2009 and a cast that leans more on smooth vocal hooks than big-voiced aggression. Chris Martin’s “All I Need” and D-Major’s “Can’t Buy Love” feel like the heart of it, both riding the rhythm with that easy, romantic pull that was all over late-2000s reggae. Voicemail’s “Connection” adds a bit more bounce, while Red Rat brings a sharper edge on “I Am Just A Man, ” which keeps the set from settling into pure sweetness. The riddim’s version closes things out cleanly, and the lineup actually stretches a little wider than the House Of Hits releases that followed, since Riddim-ID also ties the same rhythm to names like Anthony Que and Fantan Mojah. It lands right in that 2009 space when reggae radio still had room for lover’s vibes and polished one-rhythm projects like this.