Bad Dog Riddim

Miami-based producer Troyton Rami really went out on a limb with this slow, meditative, super-minimal riddim which is comprised of little more than two drum sounds, sub-bass, occasional keybord stabs and a simple, hypnotic melody. The space allowed for vocals by the 70bpm beat is employed fully by all the artists featured on the riddim, which includes Buju Banton, Mavado, Elephant Man and Bounty Killer - but it's Beenie Man and Cobra who really take the riddim for me.

Cobra's clever, self-censoring lyric substitutes 'AA' for the words he feels he's unable to say, be it 'AK', 'pum pum' or whatever else he may be referring to. Unusually, he successfully combines gal lyrics with his staple badmanism - something that badman artists often try and fail to do. The rhythmic pattern of Beenie Man's vocal his is remiscent of his late 90s hit Trouble Maker and again he's in an angry mood, delivering a bunch of threats presumably aimed at his long time nemesis, Bounty Killer.

This review was featured in the first issue of Woofah, a magazine dedicated to reggae, grime and dubstep.

Released on 7" vinyl by Black Shadow

Posted by Gabriel Heatwave | Wednesday 13 June 2007