Tax Money Riddim – Philip Music

Tax Money Riddim came out in 2013 on Philip Music, the label associated with Cutty Ranks, who has long used it as his own outlet for reggae and dancehall releases. The riddim sits in that hard-edged, no-frills lane where roots-minded singing meets rawer dancehall energy, and the title alone hints at the social pressure running through the project.

The centerpiece cuts come from Cutty Ranks himself, with “Love A No Fi Sale” and “Pussy A Fi Sale” bringing his gravelly delivery and plainspoken street commentary to the front. The instrumental “Tax Money” gives the riddim its spine, a taut, driving bed that leaves space for deejay phrasing and direct chants rather than lush arrangement. Abby’s “From My Heart” and Ali Ozwood’s “Sex Appeal” add a more melodic contrast, while Lutan Fyah’s “Get Weh Wid Crime” and Turbulence’s “Cry” push the release toward conscience music, with the latter two leaning into the tension between everyday struggle and warning-message reggae.

Peter Metro’s “Scream Like A Bitch, ” Jason Brown’s “Touch The Road, ” and Devine’s “So Close” round out a release that feels like a proper juggling set rather than a one-off single package. The voices vary, but the rhythm keeps a firm, clipped pulse underneath, giving the whole thing a gritty, street-level feel that matches the title’s pressure and attitude.