Systems Riddim – Various Artists

Gyptian’s “Lonely” is the track that gives the Systems Riddim its edge, but Carl Meeks hanging in there with “Dreaming” and Truthful’s “Inflation” help anchor the set in that late-2000s roots-meets-modern-dancehall pocket. Vivian Thomas keeps the production lean and digital, with a cool, system-ready pulse that suits the title and leaves plenty of room for the singers to work; there’s no overcooking here, just a clean cut riddim and a lineup that moves from veteran voices to younger names like Jah Niceness, Mikey Pelpa and Trilla U. It sits neatly in Thomas’s catalogue as one of those various-artist builds that leans on message songs and melody rather than hype, the kind of release that sounds made for sound system play and yard-side rotation.