Zee Drop Riddim – Zee Squad Records

A stern, guitar-punctuated reggae groove with enough room for the vocals to cut through is what Zee Squad Records was chasing on Zee Drop Riddim, and the 2008 set leans into that mood with a fine mix of roots voices. Lutan Fyah’s “Bad Man” sets the tone with that hard-edged conscience talk, while Anthony B’s “Justice And Equal Right” and Queen Ifrica’s “Dance Floor” keep the energy pointed and militant rather than glossy. There’s a nice thread running between the producer’s stripped-back approach and the artists’ message songs, especially on Teflon’s “Yard A Love, ” which feels like the kind of cut that would’ve carried weight on a selector’s dubplate bag. Nine vocal cuts and a version close it out, with Mr Perfect and Anthony Cruz adding a little extra bite.