Thirteen Riddim – 10 Floor Records

Ten Floor Records kept this one tight in 2011, with 12 cuts and just nine voices riding the Thirteen Riddim, so the whole thing feels more like a focused dancehall juggling than a crowded compilation. Don Tippa gets the opening stretch with “Bad Mind Inna Real Life” and “Gal Dweet, ” and both lean into that sharp, talk-rough street talk that suits a one-drop of a title like this. Teacha Dee’s “Mr. Thirteen” is the obvious theme tune, while Ice’s pair, “I And I Real” and “No Fly Cant Pitch, ” add a firmer, more militant edge. There’s also some nice contrast from Sugga Banton’s “Inna Mi Dinner” and Tee Jay’s “Girls From All Around, ” which keep the set moving with a lighter, more party-ready touch. Dropping in 2011, it sits right in that period when riddim culture was still thriving on compact, artist-driven projects.