Zion Riddim (2018) – Kick Dem Records

Zion Riddim arrived in 2018 from Kick Dem Records, the Jamaican outfit founded by ZJ Bruce Lee. By then the label had already carved out a name in dancehall and reggae circles with sharp, radio-friendly juggling projects and a knack for lining up artists who can ride a one-drop or modern bashment pulse without losing edge.

This one has a bright, propulsive feel that sits between roots consciousness and dancehall energy. The groove is roomy but pointed, with the bass doing the heavy lifting and the percussion keeping the movement steady enough for sound system play. The title fits the mood: there is enough spiritual lift in the arrangement to justify the name, but the riddim never gets airy or soft. It has the kind of bounce that gives singers space to go direct with message tunes, street talk, or party chatter.

Bugle’s Eye For An Eye brings the moral pressure, while Delly Ranx on Mount Zion gives the set a veteran’s ease. Devin Di Dakta’s Switch Up, Munga Honorable’s Vibrate, and Teflon’s Hustlers Anthem each pull a different angle from the same groove, from sharp social observation to harder-edged hustling talk. Delando Colley’s Funny Money adds a lighter, more playful touch, and Raine Seville’s All Night pushes the riddim toward late-night dancefloor territory. Eye Judah and NC Dread’s Higher, Isasha’s Brain Food, Kim Nain’s Love On Fire, Kriz Kapital’s Blaze Up, and Révélation’s Beware all help widen the project’s reach without breaking its identity.

The strength of Zion Riddim is that it can hold roots-minded chant, streetwise cut, and club-ready energy in the same frame. That balance is exactly what has kept Kick Dem’s juggling releases circulating.