Up Top Riddim – Swagg Records

Eight tracks deep and all cut from the same 2016 session, Up Top Riddim keeps the focus tight, with Swagg Records laying down the instrumental and seven vocal runs that move from Eminoxx’s “Feeling Nice” to Sonni D’Nero’s “Jah Know. ” The strongest cuts lean into that mid-2000s dancehall bounce with a clean, bright pulse rather than anything too heavy, and Chriso’s “Way You Wine” sits nicely against Bree’s sweeter “You Alone, ” giving the riddim a little push and pull between party talk and more laid-back melody. Swagg Records, based out of Portmore, had these songs circulating as a compact digital dancehall package in 2016, and the tracklist also includes Neena, Syrahdo and Vaitnam, with each tune running just over two minutes, which keeps the whole thing moving at a quick clip.