Lava riddim (Big Yard)

Lady Saw - "He Loves You Not" Black-Er - "You Have It Lock Like" Ky-Enie - "What You Sippin On" Lady G, Macka Diamond & Queen Paula - "I'm Too Sexy"

Huge new riddim on Big Yard, driven by acoustic guitar (El Toro-like) and a nice almost-slow-soca beat, complete with upbeat percussions - Guaranteed dance action on these ones!!! The choice of vocalists on this one is wicked, with lots of female satisfaction. Lady Saw's piece is nice, catchy and suitably bitchy, which the durrrty cover of Right Said Fred's "Too Sexy" tune is a wicked idea, featuring Lady G and Macka on top form.
Essential dancefloor action! (hear it there - playlist).
Flex, Nov '06

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Stage Show riddim(Mad House)

Baby Cham, Spice & Pinchers, Pinchers,Assassin

Released in early July 2006, the Stage Show riddim is the latest creation from producer Dave Kelly (Fiesta, Joy Ride, 85, etc) on the Mad House label and was definitely the dancehall riddim of the summer for us! The released pieces feature in-house artists Cham ("Rude Boy Pledge") and Spice ("Rude Love", with Pinchers) as well as Pinchers with perhaps the most catchy piece ("Enemies") and Assassin with "Good Over Evil", this well thought-out set of singles definitely works as a group, a rare feat on the reggae scene these days... For me, the best pieces are Cham's and Pinchers, although all of them are well worth getting! To check the riddim, listen to our 25th Oct '06 show, about 70 minutes into the show, where we also played an exclusive in-house remix featuring Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent and Buju Banton! (playlist)
Flex, Nov 06

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Intercom Reloaded (Maximum Sound)

Bounty Killer & Luckie D, Burro Banton, Jah Mason

Ultra-prolific producer Frenchie follows the recent "Train To Zion" and "Yahoo" riddims with this brilliant rework on the "Intercom" riddim, most famous for Barrington Levy's Here I Come (aka Broader Than Broadway) classic. The strongest piece has to be the excellent combination between Bounty Killer and Lukie D, Kill Another Sound - an absolute gem of a soundbwoy tune, a future classic for sure. Burro Banton also makes a very strong appearance here - I'd been worrying since his poor effort on Massive B's Truth And Rights re-issue last year. But this Man Guinep shows Burro's back on top. Finally, I got Jah Mason's Mama Earth. Big tunes!
Listen to our Maximum Sound Exposure show of 24th May 2006 (playlist) to hear our Intercom mix, and check Maximum Sound's website for more info on the label.
Flex, May 2006

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Zulu Riddim (TrackHouse)

Turbulence, Idonia, Bounty Killa, Movado, Demolition Man

Wicked new bashment riddim from the TrackHouse crew (of "Siren" fame), featuring "El-Toro"-like acoustic guitar, a fat beat, and... oh my god.. the "Zulu" chanting! (I'm sure Roll Deep use the same sample in lots of their tunes?). Anyway, as if the riddim itself wasn't enough, these people have a brilliant selection of artists flowing on it.
Turbulence's piece is definitely set it apart by its chorus - he's on good form on the verses too, a well-performed version of the classic poor-people defender, social commentary, anti-politrix style.
Aidonia's Go Get Them starts with a fair bit of branding, and it works. Beyond the intro and a few good lines, I'm not 100% convinced.
The warlord's piece (BK - Heaven Sented) displays the 5-star general on fine form... For definite one of my favourite pieces on the riddim. Lyrical content is witty, based around the Killer's non-stop attraction to the opposite sex. Positive stuff, which is good to hear.
Movado ("Hypocrites") also has a very strong chorus, and it's good to hear from him, but to me the verses don't flow enough for me.
Demolition Man, hailing from U.K. definitely steals the show in my books. His flow is lively and upfront, and shows much more versality than most other DJ's. The lyrics are 100% positive & catchy. Lovely - big up TrackHouse on getting some UK talent out there...

Watch out for more pieces from other artists soon! (I hope they get Busy Signal on it)
Listen to our Maximum Sound Exposure show of 24th May 2006 (playlist) to hear our Zulu mix, including a special Busta & Pharell remix by yours truly.
Flex, May 2006

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