Wicked Up Riddim – Notnice Records

Notnice Records kept the Wicked Up Riddim in that sharp, mid-tempo dancehall pocket where the bounce is tight but the drums still leave room for the voice to work. Released on January 20, 2017, the set runs 13 tracks and puts Ainsley “Notnice” Morris back in the role he has long played in the scene: a builder of modern dancehall frameworks with enough swing for the party and enough edge for the clash. The name carries weight because Notnice has been tied to Popcaan from the early years, when he first voiced him professionally, and that history gives this project an easy, unrushed confidence.

Popcaan’s “Frass Box” is the headline cut, all swagger and unbothered posture, while RDX come in with “Level Up, ” pushing the riddim into peak dancefloor mode with their usual hook-heavy, performance-ready energy. Chi Ching Ching adds a bright, animated turn on “Wicked, ” which suits his dancer-to-deejay style perfectly. Vershon’s “Real Queffa” and Jafrass’s “Jump” keep the temperature up with direct, chantable phrasing, while Mr Easy’s “Gone A Lead” brings a more seasoned tone to the juggling. Wasp, Doza Medicine and Versi fill out the set with hard-nosed street talk that matches the production’s taut, stripped-down momentum.

The instrumental sits comfortably in the same lane, giving the project the kind of backbone that makes a good dancehall riddim work: one groove, multiple personalities, no wasted movement.