Tuff Talk Riddim (2018) – Flex Up Records

Tuff Talk Riddim lands in that mid-2010s reggae pocket where the groove does the talking: crisp drums, a steady bassline and just enough attitude to leave room for deejays to cut through. Joshua Hales opens things with the title cut, while Badda General’s “Dem Nuh Bad” is the one that keeps surfacing as the key track, all tight phrasing over Flex Up Records’ no-frills production. Soul Medic’s “My Sound” and Kenne Blessin’s “We Tun It Up” add more movement to the set, and K-Kay joins Tim Starr on “Buss Di Place” for a livelier pass through the same rhythm. The project runs six tracks in total, closing with the instrumental from Kalibandulu and Yungg Trip, issued in 2018.