Tempo Riddim – 1985-2007. Features over 170 tracks from various producers.
Tempo Overview
The roots project known as Tempo Riddim first appeared in Jamaica in the mid-1980s. It brought a strong roots reggae sound to the scene, with a track base that still echoes the classic style of 1985. The riddim is built around rich horn lines and steady, jazzy beats, giving it a timeless feel. Several artists contributed to this project, each adding their own flavor. Admiral Shirt delivered the song "Eager," keeping the calm, island spirit alive. Alley Cat, known for his 1994 track "Sodomity (Penthouse)," brought his unique voice to the riddim. Andrew Right’s "Temper" also stands out, blending smoothly with the rootsy background. A highlight of the project is the collaboration between Anthony B and Derrick Lara on "Nothing Nah Gwan." Anthony B is a well-known reggae artist, famous for his powerful lyrics and energetic performances. He also appears solo with "Burnout Da War (Massive B) 2002" and "How Dem A Flex," both songs showing his strong presence in modern roots reggae. Derrick Lara, who worked with Anthony B here, is respected for his soulful singing and long career in reggae. The music arranger played a key role in shaping the sound, making sure the horn sections and rhythms stayed true to the roots tradition. The producer, if credited, would have guided the project, but the arranger’s touch is clear in every track. Tempo Riddim stands as a strong reminder of reggae’s roots, bringing together talented artists and classic sounds in a project that still feels fresh today.
Tempo Tracklist:
- Admiral Shirt – Eager (Bum Rock Ltd)
- Alley Cat – Sodomity (Penthouse) 1994
- Andrew Right – Temper (Star Trail)
- Anthony B & Derrick Lara – Nothing Nah Gwan (Star Trail)
- Anthony B – Burnout Da War (Massive B) 2002
- Anthony B – How Dem A Flex (Star Trail)
- Anthony Malvo – Guard Yuh Head Back (Star Trail) 1995
- Anthony Red Rose – Impersonators
- Anthony Red Rose – Tempo (Firehouse) 1985
- Aswad – Shine
- Beenie Man – Bad Man Bizness 2001
- Benjay – Babylon System 2007
- Beres Hammond – Your Fool (Xterminator) 1993
- Bionic Steve – Rude Boy (Star Trail)
- Black Roots Players – Temp Dub 1985
- Black Roots Players – Up Tempo 1985
- Buccaneer – Chatty Chatty Mouth (Penthouse) 1994
- Buju Banton & Garnett Silk – Complaint 1995
- Buju Banton & Twiggy – I Want Your Love (Penthouse) 1994
- Bunny General – Kill Dem All 2006
- Burro Banton – Jah Jah Rules (Massive B) 2002
- Busy Signal & Alborosie – Murderer 2008
- Candy Man – Ganja Palace 2006
- Capleton & Garnett Silk – Dis The Trinity Special 1996
- Capleton – Dis The Trinity (Star Trail) 1994
- Capleton – Speak Your Mind (Ras I) 2004
- Carlene Davis – Rise Up (President Mandela) (Jammys) 1994
- Chris Wayne – Don’t Worry Yourself 1985
- Chronicle – You Say You Love Me (Massive B) 2002
- Chukki Starr – Show Your Love
- Cocoa Tea – Jump And Spread Out (Volcano) 1992
- Cocoa Tea – No War (Togetherness) 2002
- Conscious Fiyah – Microchip
- Cp Ink – Chain Saw 2006
- Crank Angle Version 2006
- D Django – Them A Run Come (Wild Geese)
- Dave Robinson – Have To Go Thru (Leggo Sounds) 1987
- Demolition Man – Tempo
- Dennis Brown – Bubbling Sweet Tonight (Two Friends) 1990
- Derrick Lara – Me No Have It (Star Trail)
- Don Angelo – Get It Already (Jammys) 1985
- Doniki & Steady Ranks – Soundboy A Moan & Yawn (Star Trail)
- Elephant Man – No Time Fa Dem (Massive B) 2002
- Everton Blender – Family Man (Star Trail) 1994
- Gaddiel – No Time To Play (Ras I) 2004
- Garnett Silk – Complaint (Penthouse) 1994
- General Degree – Pee Pee Cluck Cluck (Penthouse)
- Ginger – Man Nowadays (Mr Doo) 1991
- Goldie Natch – Dem Nah Hear (Star Trail)
- Gregory Isaacs – Curfew International (Oasis)
- Gregory Isaacs – Kingston 14 (Universal Noiz)
- Gregory Peck – A Di Woman (Kingston 11) 1994
- Home T – Careless Whisper (Two Friends)
- Hopeton James – Didn’t I (Two Friends)
- Hopeton Junior – Iniquity Worker
- Hopeton Lindo – Tribute (Aqua) 1996
- Ini Kamoze – Hardware (Xterminator)
- Ini Kamoze – Imagine In Dub
- Isasha – Unknown Title
- Iyashanti – Problem (Star Trail)
- Jack Radics & Kulcha Knox – Let My People Go
- Jah Cure – Never Die Like Fool (Flash Records) 1998
- Jah Mason – Open Up Yuh Heart (Ras I) 2004
- Jerry Johnson – Tribute To Prince Knight 1985
- Johnny Osbourne – No Sound Like We (Jammys) 1985
- Juliet – Show And Tell (Penthouse) 1995
- Junior Cat – Kingston Jamaica 2006
- Junior Delgado – Run Come (Jammys)
- Junior Demus – Badboy Business Too Common
- Junior Kelly – Real (Togetherness) 2002
- Junior Murvin – Jah Took Six Days (Jammys) 1986
- Junior Randy – Nicht Genug (Jahsouljah) 2006
- Junior Reid & Bitter Roots – Anthem 1992
- Junior Reid – Bad Man (J R P)
- Junior Timba – My Sweet Mama (Kingston 11) 1994
- Junior Tucker – Lock Me Up (Penthouse) 1994
- King Asher – Crank Angle Pt 2 (Firehouse)
- King Everald – After All (Firehouse) 1985
- King Everald – I’ve Found Love (Jammys) 1985
- King Kong – AIDS (Firehouse) 1985
- King Kong – Can’t Ride Computer 1986
- King Kong – Step On Dem Corn (Flash Records) 1998
- King Kong – Tempo (World Enterprize) 1986
- King Kong – This Sound Charge For Murder (World Enterprize) 1986
- King Kong – Trouble Trouble (World Enterprize) 1986
- King Kong – Unity (Massive B) 2002
- Lieutenant Stitchie – Miss A+ Pon Di Corner (Jammys) 1994
- Likkle Lion – Jah Love Conquer (Jahsouljah) 2006
- Lilly Melody – Jah Guide (Park Heights) 1988
- Little Devon – Wise Head (Star Trail)
- Little Howie – Original Love Me (Oasis) 1990
- Little John – Memories (Jammys) 1985
- Little Twitch – My Lord (Star Trail)
- Luciano & Charlie Chaplin – Jah Is Alive (Xterminator) 1994
- Luciano – Black Survivors (Xterminator) 1994
- Luciano – Love His Majesty (Flash Records) 1998
- Luciano,Michigan,Mikey General,Jeffrey Star,Pampi Judah – Aint Got Love (Ras I) 2004
- Lutan Fyah – My Voice 2006
- Lutan Fyah – Put It On (Ras I) 2004
- Mad Cobra – Sorry 2001
- Manuel Stain – Devil A Fool You 2001
- Michael Rose – Short Temper (Heartbeat) 1994
- Micheal Fabulous – Kill Another Sound 2006
- Michigan & Smiley – Fastest Man
- Mikey General – Crazy Can’t Test 2006
- Mikey General – Gone We Gone (Digikal) 1986
- Mikey General – Good Old Days (Platinum) 1988
- Mikey General – Jah Blessed Me (Flash Records) 1998
- Mikey General – Sound Doctor (Youth Promotion) 1985
- Mr King – Rankin Bandedo 2007
- Mr Vegas – I’m In Love 2007
- Nana Mclean – Take My Loving (Penthouse)
- Nardo Ranks & Junior Demus – New Jersey Drive
- Natural Black – My Meditation (Flash Records) 1998
- Nerious Joseph – Danger Man (Fashion) 1985
- Nicky B – Legalize It 2007
- Nicodemus – Da Plan Land (Massive B) 2002
- Nicodemus – Ease Freeze 1986
- Nicodemus – Mr Fabulous (Skengdon) 1986
- Ninjaman – Love Unuh Want (Tachyon) 1990
- Nitty Gritty – Hog In A Minty (Jammys) 1986
- Nitty Gritty – Zero Their Minds (Jammys)
- Norris Man & Anthony Red Rose – Heathen (Part 2) (Star Trail)
- Pad Anthony – In Deh (Jammys)
- Pampi Judah – Gone Crazy (Ras I) 2004
- Papa Santress – Dance Inna Mount Zion (Skengdon) 1986
- Patrick Andy – Computerised (Jammys)
- Paul Elliot – Older Woman (Kingston 11) 1994
- Peego, Fatman & The King Tubby All Stars – Crank Angle (Firehouse) 1985
- Pinchers – Unknown Title 2007
- Prezident Brown – Open Sesame
- Raggamuffin – Badman (Jahsouljah) 2006
- Ranking Joe – Too Much Confusion (Jahsouljah) 2006
- Ras Menilik Dacosta – Free South Africa 1985
- Ras Shiloh & Garnett Silk – Complain (Penthouse) 2002
- Reggie Stepper – Killing Sound 2006
- Richie Stephens – Forever (Penthouse) 1994
- Robert Lee & Elephant Man – Run Fa Cover (Jammys) 1994
- Robert Lee – Come Now Sound Boy (Jammys)
- Rude Boy Face – Ragga Ragga 2007
- Shabba Ranks – Love Up Your Woman (Two Friends) 1990
- Shinehead – Who The Cap Fits (African Love Music) 1988
- Singing Melody – Stand Up For Your Love (Oasis)
- Sizzla – Dis Gangstar (Xterminator) 1995
- Sizzla – I Love Jah (Massive B) 2002
- Sizzla – We Want Love (Xterminator) 1995
- Sluggy Ranks – Sodom & Gomorrah (Stars) 1993
- Snow – Dance Alone (Massive B) 2002
- Spectacular – Burn The System (Jahsouljah) 2006
- Spice – Bed Room Bully 2007
- Steve Harper – Jah Give I The Vibes (Youth Promotion) 1995
- Steve Machete – See Dem (Massive B) 2002
- Sugar Minott – Devil Is At Large 1985
- Sugar Minott – Run Around Love (Youth Promotion) 1987
- Super Black – Mouth A Massy Liza (Jammys) 1985
- Talking Robot & Singie Singie – Ease (Turbo Crew) 1990
- Terry Ganzie – King Of Kings (Penthouse) 1994
- Thai Stylee – Bdbarrr (Jahsouljah) 2006
- Thriller U – Good Bye
- Tippa Irie – Live As One (Blue Moon) 1986
- Tonto Irie – Come We Just A Come (Jammys) 1985
- Tonto Irie – It A Ring (Jammys) 1985
- Tony Rebel – Caan Bad Me Up (Mr Doo) 1991
- Tristan Palma – Try Jah Love (Flash Records) 1998
- Twiggy – I Want Your Love (Penthouse) 1994
- Uwe Banton & Ganjaman – Kommt Seht Hort (Jahsouljah) 2006
- Version (Kingston 11)
- Version
- Wayne Passley – Why Do You Lie (Kingston 11) 1994
- Wayne Smith – It Gets Me Stronger (Jammys) 1985
- Wayne Wonder – Why Did You (Penthouse) 1994
- Willie Williams – Solid Rock I Stand 1985
- Yami Bolo – I Don’t Know Why (Wacam) 2000
- Yellowman – Mek She Gwan
- Zumjay – Ghetto Movement 2007
Releases Similar to Tempo Riddim (1985-2007) – Various Producers
Research and editorial by Riddimz Kalacta & Goltem, sourcing from physical vinyl labels, Discogs, ReggaeFever, Riddim-ID, DancehallMag, and other trusted archives.