Tuff Chat Riddim – M.A.D Production

M. A. D Production’s Tuff Chat Riddim sits in that 2019 wave of roots-leaning one-riddim sets that keep the focus on the groove and the message rather than flash. The cut carries a stern, mid-tempo reggae pulse with enough weight in the bass to give songs like Little Hero’s “The Struggle” and I Grades’ “Only Love” real room to breathe, while Lenn Hammond’s “All Night” softens the edges a little without losing the riddim’s rough-hewn feel. The lineup runs deep, but the pairing of I Grades and Sizzla is the one that gives the project its sharpest lift. Empress Chai and Red Tafya also bring some warmth to “It’s Me, ” which helps balance the tougher tones elsewhere. It closes with Jay Banx’s “Pappa, ” a final vocal turn that keeps the set moving right through the last bar.