The Tool Riddim (1992) – Collin Fat Records

By the time Collin Fat Records cut The Tool Riddim in 1992, the label was already deep into that early-’90s dancehall run, and this one sits squarely in the raw, lean style of the period. The set only runs six cuts, but it gets the point across fast: Tumpa Lion’s title tune, Frisco Kid’s “U Nah Hype, ” Mega Banton’s “Feel Scary, ” and Don Yute’s “Matie Career” keep the vocal side taut and streetwise, with the mysterious “Unknown” slotting in on “Give Me The Night” and a simple mix version closing things out. The rhythm itself is spare and hard-edged, with a clipped skank, dry drums, and a bass line that hangs low rather than rolling all over the place. It moves at a mid-tempo pace and leaves plenty of room for the deejays to ride the pocket.