Yes Buju Riddim – Gargamel Music

Yes Buju Riddim comes out of Buju Banton’s Gargamel Music camp in 1998, when dancehall was still deep in its ragga era and Buju was already one of the genre’s defining voices. The riddim is centered on two Buju cuts, “Mumma Prem Prem” and “Yes Buju, ” which is fitting for a project carrying his name as well as his label imprint. The version is there too, keeping the juggling format intact for sound systems and selectors.

The overall feel is sharp and stripped-down, with that late-’90s digital dancehall bounce that leaves plenty of room for the deejays to work. Buju’s cuts bring the most identity to the rhythm: “Yes Buju” has the self-assertive, crowd-moving energy that made him such a force, while “Mumma Prem Prem” plays like a tougher, more mischievous companion piece.

The supporting voices widen the spread without blunting the focus. Daddy Lizard’s “One Ting, ” Powerman’s “Anaconda, ” Sabba Tooth’s “Careless Gal, ” Black Mice’s “Get Serious, ” and Buba’s “Run Dem” all sit comfortably in that era’s fast-talking, streetwise dancehall style, with The Spectacular’s “Melody” adding a slightly different flavor to the juggling. It’s the kind of riddim that works because the voices don’t fight the beat; they ride it with attitude. Garagamel’s own release here sits neatly in Buju’s catalog as both a vanity project and a real dancehall juggle, built for the dance rather than the album rack.