Worldwide Riddim (2017) – Noah X

Down in the 2017 soca run, Noah X’s Worldwide Riddim keeps things tight with just four cuts and a sharp, no-frills frontline: Lil Natty’s “We Pride, ” Muddy’s cheeky “Liking Me Self, ” Blaka Dan’s hard-edged “Head Bad Up, ” and Nagalus on “Free We Self. ” The production has that compact carnival pulse rather than a sprawling, overworked feel, which suits the lineup nicely, especially when Muddy and Blaka Dan lean into the rhythm’s swagger. Noah X had already been busy around that period, and this one sits neatly alongside his other 2017 work without trying to overreach. It’s a small package, just 16 minutes in all, but the hooks land quickly and leave their mark.