Various – Mash Down Riddim

Lustre Kings Productions, the Kings of the Zion I Kings collective, are the driving force behind the ninth installment in the acclaimed Zion I Kings Riddim series. Their Mash Down Riddim follows up Zion High Productions’ H.I.M. Teachings Riddim, which was released in January, 2018.

In the summer 2017 season, Brooklyn’s multi-talented Jahdan Blakkamoore came up with the hard-hitting anthem Mash Down Georgetown, an ode to his hometown of Georgetown, Guyana. This Lustre Kings produced track had a modern rockers feel and vibes reminiscent of Black Uhuru and UK reggae of the late ’70s/early ’80s. The riddim, laced with a driving bassline, soulful guitar licks and futuristic synths, now reappears with Blakkamoore’s original Mash Down Georgetown accompanied by nine cuts from contemporary reggae’s finest like Akae Beka, Lutan Fyah, Medisun, Ras Teo, Pressure Busspipe, and Lloyd Brown, plus a dubbed out version of Tippy I aka I Grade Dub.

UK-based vocalist Lloyd Brown delivers the first track on the Mash Down Riddim titled Forward. It’s a salute to the indomitable spirit of Jah, stepping through Babylon, not looking back and keeping it moving, Forward. Lloyd Brown heads a line-up of artists who have all blessed the riddim with fine style and lyrical prowess. Apart from the tunes by Lloyd Brown and Blakkamoore, tracks that instantly make a very good impression include Pressure Busspipe’s Heights Of Greatness, Lutan Fyah’s Dawg Eat Dawg, and Akae Beka’s Great Nation.

After a listen through all of the songs, one simply has to come to the conclusion that this album serves up solid tracks, through and through.