Teenie Bop Riddim – Golden Cartel

In 2002, when roots reggae was still holding firm against the tougher dancehall wave, Golden Cartel put out the Teenie Bop Riddim and kept the set lean with just six vocal cuts and a version. Culture’s “Weeping And Wailing” sets the tone in a sober, chant-like way, while Luciano turns “Man Of God” into the kind of earnest roots message he could do in his sleep. Sizzla’s “Can’t Touch Mi Turf” pushes harder, with that sharp-edged confidence he was bringing to a lot of early-2000s work, and Shinehead’s “I Feel It” adds a bit of crossover flavor to the lineup. The riddim also links to the Golden Cartel name used on a 7-inch issue of Luciano’s track, which fits the era’s mix of sound system use and collector-friendly singles.