Welcome to a new blog here on CaribDirect: Tek Di Riddim in which we’ll endeavor to bring you reviews, and opinions on the latest Reggae and Dancehall releases! I’ll be hunting down the newest releases from Jamaica and across the globe and giving my opinion on who I think Tek Di Riddim (has the best version on a track) and who Flop Di Riddim (worst or least good track).
Let’s first get started with a couple of Dancehall Riddims!
Seanizzle Records – Wet Up Riddim
Featuring artists such as I-Octane, Aidonia, Elephant Man, and Khago, the riddim certainly has ‘brawn’ in terms of Jamaican Dancehall stars. Seanizzle too are highly rated producers on the Dancehall scene with a string of hit riddims to their name including: One Day (I’m Drinking Rum and Redbull) and Split Personality (Pon Di Ting). Wet Up Riddim seems like a blast from the past, reminiscent of the early noughties (undeniably Elephant Man’s era). The riddim obviously is influenced by the Dance genre which is influencing a lot of sounds at the moment. It is definitely a club/party riddim, any doubt is eliminated by the number of songs on the riddim that discuss ‘wining.’ Wine & Bruckout – Charley Black, Demarco- Wine, and Wine Up Fi Me – Bencil, for me Demarco’s piece Tek Di Riddim. To be honest I wasn’t feeling the riddim too much till hearing his version, but I think it may be a grower. An archetypal Dancehall Riddim, take a listen. Let us know who YOU think Tek Di Riddim!
VERDICT – Tek Di Riddim: Demarco. Flop Di Riddim: Aidonia.
The #TNS or Team No Sleep Riddim features Mavado, Popcaan and incarcerated deejay Vybz Kartel among others. Produced by ZJ Chrome preview clips of the tracks have been floating around the web for a few weeks now, but full tracks were just released this week. In contrast to the Wet Up Riddim, #TNS Riddim is pretty minimalist. Not one of the best riddims from ZJ Chrome who also masterminded popular riddims such as the Dancehall EFX Riddim (Dancehall Hero), Smokin Riddim (Stulla, Dumpa Truck) and the V6 Riddim (Head Bad). Both Popcaan’s (She Want Hood) and Vybz Kartel’s (Cover Girl) pieces on the riddim are lackluster. Mavado’s (All Faces), Di Genius (Never Scared) and Bugle’s (Currency) tracks are better on the Hip-Hop influenced riddim. Take a listen
VERDICT – Tek Di Riddim: Chan Dizzy. Flop Di Riddim: Vybz Kartel.
Do you agree with my verdicts? Let me know, who you think Tek Di Riddim! If you love Dancehall don’t forget to check out Deejay War’s website for some exclusive mixtapes!
