Up In De Club Riddim – Monstapiece Studios

Monstapiece Studios lobs this 2002 dancehall set into the mix with a tight four-track lineup, and it feels more like a club-ready snapshot than a sprawling riddim package. Alison Hinds and Peter Ram open things up on “Wave Wid Me, ” while Bunji Garlin’s “Hands Up” pushes the energy a little harder, all sharp patter and bounce against a bassline that’s meant for crowded rooms. Lil Rick’s title cut is the one that really ties the whole thing together, with Dawg-E-Slaughter’s “Uptown Wine” keeping the waistline business moving right alongside it. The release is also tagged to Waist Line and the Peter Coppin/Terry Arthur production team, which gives it that early-2000s Caribbean crossover feel; small package, but it leaves a mark.