Venus Riddim (2018) – Diwali Records

Venus Riddim lands in 2018 with Diwali Records at the controls and Lenky Marsden’s name tied to the version cut at the end of the set, a neat reminder that this crew knows how to frame a juggling around a strong central groove. The riddim runs just over 40 minutes across 11 tracks, and the sequencing keeps the energy moving without crowding the mix. Lutan Fyah opens with the title cut, while Richie Stephens, Lukie D, Anthony Cruz, Zumjay, Voicemail, Lymie Murray, Leba Hibbert, Geoffrey Star, and Nikki Tucker each take a pass at the same rhythm. The release date is October 26, 2018.

The sound sits in warm, mid-tempo reggae territory, with a clean bounce and a singalong feel that gives each vocalist room to work melody. Lutan Fyah brings his conscious, roots-steeped delivery to Venus, and Richie Stephens answers with the smoother, more polished touch that has long made him one of Jamaica’s most versatile voices. Lukie D’s Promise fits his soulful, crossover-ready style, while Anthony Cruz keeps the emotional weight high on Nah Get Enough. Voicemail add a lighter, harmony-driven lift on Trust In Me, and Lymie Murray’s My Daughter My Friend gives the riddim one of its most direct family-minded tunes.

Diwali Records is best known for projects that favor memorable hooks and broad vocal appeal, and Venus follows that pattern without sounding routine. The last stretch, with Leba Hibbert, Geoffrey Star, and Nikki Tucker, helps the riddim finish with variety rather than fatigue, and Lenky Marsden’s instrumental version lets the groove breathe on its own.