My favourite riddims: Darker Shade

So a new danish female MC made me think of another, Natasja (RIP), and one of my most confusing but also favourite riddims - the Darker Shade riddim. Confusing because there are a couple of different riddims under this name, but this one is a more recent version made by the masters, Sly and Robbie and released on their Taxi label. I really dig the laid-back intro, the funky guitars and the strings in the background, it's another great Sly and Robbie moment...I've chosen 3 different styles - the insanely fast (but not quite TOK calibre) Chino who 'no promote no coke', Natasja's sublime mix of speedy mcing and melodic lament, and Mr Vegas' cool, calm and collected instruction to 'lean wid it, rock wid it...'. Another favourite, that I only have on vinyl is Cherine Anderson's 'Kingston State of Mind'...check it.

PLUS IF YOU'RE IN LONDON TOMORROW NIGHT, and you're hungry/hungry for a dance, come down to our night for some jerk chicken and a dutty wine - at Anda da Bridge, 42-44 Kingsland road, E2. It's going to be a relax affair...



Mr Vegas - Lean Wid It

Natasja - Long Time

Chino - Weed Smoke