Wizzle Riddim – Tj Records

TJ Records’ Wizzle Riddim arrived in 2018 with a roots-leaning, radio-friendly bounce that leaves room for melody and message rather than chasing any one singjay style. The release pulls in a strong cross-section of Jamaican voices: Jah Cure on “Jah Lead The Way, ” Konshens on “Every Hustler, ” Agent Sasco on “Full Up A Style, ” Jesse Royal and Charly Black on “Herbalist Party, ” Lukie D on “Time To Shine, ” Romain Virgo on “Bless Me Lord, ” Chris Martin on “Love Triangle, ” and Jah Izrehl on “Banana Farmer. ” The same Konshens cut also appears in a radio edit, which underlines how TJ Records was packaging the riddim for airplay as well as juggling.

Jah Cure’s “Jah Lead The Way” brings the spiritual center of gravity, with the kind of polished, emotional delivery that has long defined his catalogue. Romain Virgo’s “Bless Me Lord” adds a cleaner, youthful tenor, while Chris Martin uses “Love Triangle” to bring the kind of relationship-writing he has made his own. Agent Sasco comes at the rhythm with a sharper edge, and Konshens does what he does best, turning “Every Hustler” into a streetwise anthem that broadens the riddim’s reach beyond pure lovers rock.

The pairing of Jesse Royal and Charly Black on “Herbalist Party” is one of the more interesting moves here, bringing conscious-rooted singjaying and dancehall charisma into the same space. Lukie D’s “Time To Shine” keeps the uplift flowing, while Jah Izrehl’s “Banana Farmer” gives the set a more down-to-earth finish. On the whole, Wizzle Riddim sits comfortably in TJ Records’ 2018 run of polished reggae projects and shows a label working a clean, modern riddim with enough breadth to move between roots, lovers, and street tunes.