The Inna Dis Yah Riddim From Global Beat Studio

The Inna Dis Yah Riddim [Global Beat Studios]

Okay so, wonderfully and occasionally we run into certain projects which just catch our attention and require a bit of closer inspection and, because it's been a minute, today we're going to take a look at such a release. Coming courtesy of Global Beat Studios is the recently released Inna Dis Yah Riddim. Before I'd even heard the actual music here, I was very attracted to the lineup of vocalists. It featured a pair of truly heavy hitters along with a mixture of up and comers and solidified names, with very unique sounds and the vocal performances fulfilled on what I saw with just the names. On top of that, when you got into the actual riddim it not only played a nice background for the vocalists, but the Inna Dis Yah Riddim is just a lovely musical composition. Highlighted by a BIG horn at its head (and some really cool tiny sounds which're most visible on track #4 in my opinion), we just have a big modern Roots Reggae Riddim which does sound somewhat familiar to my ears...but that may just be due to me listening to it so much.... over and over again. Regardless of its origins, let us take a look an listen today to the Inna Dis Yah Riddim from Global Beat Studios.

1. 'Ruff Life Crisis' by Khago

It's been a minute or two since the last time I really paid attention to the work of the once controversial Khago, but maybe it's time I went and caught up on what I've been missing (he actually does have a new project out, an EP called "Pain". A quick listen to that one makes me think... it's been business as usual besides this one, but we'll give it a shot. Seems to be a lot of screaming on that one), because his opening offering on the Inna Yaad Riddim, 'Ruff Like Crisis' is very strong. A fairly straight forward social commentary, focusing on the impoverished people of the world, 'Ruff Life Crisis' shines in its time. Khago's delivery can be.... colourful to say the least, but he manages to keep it terrestrial (for the most part) long enough to produce a more laidback (by his scale) and very POWERFUL message here.  

2. 'Red Now' by Eesah & Jhoe Speng

Khago hands the Inna Dis Yah Riddim off to the only pair to appear here, Eesah and young Jhoe Speng, who continue the high levels that he set with 'Red Now'. Eesah has always had this cool, almost Chronixx-like sound to his work and 'Red Now' puts that in a full light. For his part, the husky voiced Speng comes off as someone with a much different perspective than one would imagine from someone so early into their musical journey (although, if you read up on him, you will DEFINITELY see that he has already been through some very heavy things). The two link on another social commentary ["miss government look at what yuh plan dun. Cause di youths dem still a dead pon a random"] and another which does absolutely nothing but bring more life and more power to this release. Eesah has quite a bit of work out already and feel free to check out much of it, but Jhoe Speng, who's only done a single track before this one that I know of, is one to well keep an eye and an ear on for the future.

3. 'Jungle' by Inezi

When I think of Global Beat Studios prior to the Inna Dis Ya Riddim, I do it in relation to the work of Inezi. I'm fairly certain he is their official artist and were I actually expecting anyone to be on this track, he would surely be that individual. Inezi doesn't actually stray too far from the subject matter established on the first two tunes on the riddim, but he almost seems to PERSONALIZE it to a greater degree. The way this man sings is... somewhere else. He almost seems like the piece was given to him and it is his honour to be able to give it to the rest of us. 

"In this place, no such thing is safe

Inna dis ya place

Caan even trust your own face, inna dis yuh place

Where love is a myth, ain't no such thing as family here

Seems the end is finally here"

Regardless of its source - he's right.

4. 'Freedom' by Aza Lineage

The sole female voice present on the riddim, Aza Lineage, in my opinion, provides it with its crown. 'Freedom' is absolutely devastating. From its Spoken World beginnings, 'Freedom' ascends into this gorgeous HOPEFUL tune examining the way things currently stand in the world. This song caught me (at least in-part) because if you listen to it once through, it's quite bleak and, even several spins through I can see how someone could reach and remain at a final destination of 'Freedom' being this kind of.... aspirational-ly misguided or vacant piece where the constant refrain of "freedom coming any day now" is just something people talk about being on its way, but it never actually arrives. What changed it for me is going back to its early stages that I alluded to where Lineage is far more positive ["Mi ah seh freedom street, all bondage get dashed"] ["Gwan hold di faith, might just end up great. Inna life you haffi concentrate"]. It does go down quite a bit, but I think the point is saying that THIS is what happens as you lose faith and lose TRACK of freedom. In any case (I'm probably overthinking it) (I usually do), 'Freedom' is excellent and that is neither the first nor the last time you're going to hear that about an Aza Lineage song.

5. 'Inna Yaad' by Anthony B

In case you haven't noticed - ANTHONY B HAS BEEN ON FIRE for about a year or so now an I recently discovered that he also has an album coming (if I correctly, it may be on the same day as Queen Omega's "Freedom Legacy") (so like greatest day ever, right???) soon, which we'll surely be telling you about pretty soon in full. The first on the riddim to  take things in a completely different direction (and only one of two actually), Anthony B's selection, 'Inna Yaad', as you might suspect, is an ode to the greatest place on the planet.

"Dem seh wi national dish - a ackee and saltfish

Jamaica got three county: Cornwall, Middlesex, Surrey with fourteen parish

And the highest mountain a Blue Mountain Peak

 Living in Jamaica, things no come cheap

That's why inna yard, wi play di game weh name hide and seek-

And I & I man favourite place is di beach"

Seriously. Anthony B woke up one day and found yet another gear in an already legendary career and the man just isn't slowing down.

6. 'We Can Do Better' by Sizzla

The single biggest name on the Inna Dis Yah Riddim (who will also give us an album this year) (he gives us one every year), Sizzla Kalonji, is up next with the SOLID and rather matter-of-fact 'We Can Do Better'. This is another social commentary, but one with both feet (I literally just typed "foots". Probably time for bed) standing on both spiritual and tangible grounds. I'm partial to anything Sizzla does that isn't completely out there, but 'We Can Do Better' is exactly what I said - solid. It's very well done. It isn't going to change lives, but the fact that it is present here makes this one a better project altogether in my opinion. It picks up steam throughout before pinnacling within its final full verse where Sizzla, not even on a precision-point type of thought (he is all over the place with what he's talking about), BROADLY, produces a brief moment of absolute genius.

7. 'In Addis Ababa' by Runkus

Lastly (but not leastly) (is "leastly" really a word???) (probably not), is the genetically gifted Runkus, who sends us on our way with 'In Addis Ababa'. Runkus' style is one which both well utilizes a LOVELY singing voice and an ability (like his proud papa) to just SLAY words and while I'm not prepared to call this one his finest ever, it is definitely up there and one which I would point to were I attempting to introduce Runkus to a newer fan (he's the type of artist who you hear for the first time in awhile and makes you regret not listening to him more often). 'In Addis Ababa' is STERLING. It is a pristine repatriation offering from a TALENT who all of us need to being pay more respect to in 2023. 

"Bring me home to where we belong"

Of course have to mention that the songs range all the way from Runkus' three minutes and twenty seconds, to Kalonji's ten seconds south of FIVE MINUTES and everyone turns in a very HEALTHY musical experience, as does Global Beat Studios, in general, with  the Inna Dis Yah Riddim. Don't take my word for it though - check it out for yourself.