The practice of having multiple artists listen to the same instrumental composition and find different verses, hooks and melodies to competitively captivate the hearts of the masses is unique to dancehall culture – it’s the art of ‘riddim juggling’. Since the emergence of Vevo and streaming platforms such as Audiomack , the dancehall industry has become more oriented around releasing singles than riddim juggling in more recent times. Many artists have had to adapt more individualistic marketing efforts to get their music out because top producers rarely give new artists a ‘strength’ on a hot new riddim.
Thankfully for the preservation of dancehall culture, producers like Luigi Society are making a valiant effort to maintain the integrity of the culture while also giving new artists a chance. His latest release, Sikario Riddim, is proof of that. The production is a collaborative effort between Luigi Society and Gran One Muzik. Other than having a vibrant instrumental, the key to a good juggling is to have a great line up with a balance of established and new talents. Popcaan, Munga Honourable, Teejay, Dane Ray, Teflon, Wasp and the latest addition – Chronic Law – all represented well for the established artists. Upcoming talent like Ratigan, Kyodi, Frahcess One, Natural Flamez, Deyes, Thesarus and Press Kay all proved why more young artists need a chance to make their mark on new riddims.
Unknown to many, Luigi Society is an avid lover of film and television as he is of music. When we inquired about the concept behind Sikario Riddim, he was very transparent that it came from the 2015 crime/thriller, Sicario. The film tells the tale of a principled FBI agent who is enlisted by a government task force to bring down the leader of a powerful and brutal Mexican drug cartel. The intense strategic principles that good crime thrillers are built on in film are the same ones Luigi seeks to apply with Sikario Riddim. Many of the songs address themes of thug life in Jamaica. Luigi assures his fans, though, that the menacing nature of some of the lyrical content is merely a creative expression and is in no way aimed at perpetuating violence and indiscipline in our beloved Jamaican society.
