Ugly Riddim – Various Artists

Ugly Riddim sits in that early-2000s dancehall zone where the groove does a lot of the talking: a sharp, stripped-down beat that leaves plenty of room for crossover voices to dart in and out. Bubba Sparxx’s “Ugly” gets the most attention here, and the fact that it appears in both dirty and radio versions tells you this cut was being pitched hard beyond the usual dancehall circle, while Mr. Vegas and Sean Paul keep the energy moving with their refixes. Kardinal Offishall’s “Run Away” adds another outside-the-core angle, but the project doesn’t lose its footing because the rhythm stays taut and direct throughout. By the time it reaches Timbaland’s “Ugly Rhythm Version” and the closing “Ugly Megamix, ” the compilation has already shown its range, then wraps with a final instrumental-style nod that underlines how much of the release lives in the riddim itself.