Riddim Driven: Hardtimes

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 21, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vp Records
• ASIN: B0006Q0XS2
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,662 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Huge Huge Riddim, May 9, 2005

By 

Achis (Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Riddim Driven: Hardtimes (Audio CD)

The interesting story behind the Hardtimes riddim is that its co-creator, the legendary Jamaican engineer Errol Thompson, died shortly after completing the riddim which made the big bad Hardtimes riddim one of his final works. And fittingly he does so with Stephen Gibson, son of the legendary Joe Gibbs.

Musically speaking, just listening to the sound alone (which VP was wise enough to include on the final track of the album) Thompson went out on top. The unique one drop created by the Spanish guitar is indeed way more than slightly interesting and it becomes one of the very few riddims which are standable over an album for despite never changing which is popular amongst dancehall producers.

The only real problem with the record is the odd artist selection. Bascom X, Cezar, Latoya, a returning Kulcha Knox, Marcus I and Iyts a Flames aren't exactly household names even in the reggae world, and this was definitely a riddim which required some of the bigger names which are absent (i.e. Sizzla, Bushman, Anthony B. etc.). Representing for the big names are Capleton, Luciano and Junior Kelly, all of whom score reasonably well, especially the Prophet with the riddim's best offering, the massive That Day Will Come. Of the newbies and the unknowns, I Wayne does quite well with his hit Living in Love as does Bascom X on Lonely Girl. Latoya has obviously mastered the Beyonce' pitch and lets it all go on More Than Confused which is 'decent'. The 5th Element crew touches down completely with Chuck Fender, Richie Spice and Anthony Cruz all recording here with only Cruz missing the mark with the not-witty-enough Mari-wanna. Oddly enough one of my favorite tunes here is from unknown Cezar which just shows the surprising confidence of the young artist who should only be getting better.

Overall, sure I would have loved to see some more of the roots staples on this one, but ultimately giving the rookies a chance is something that must be done on a big riddim. The tune itself holds is own and was definitely one of the best of 2004 (the other 2 of course being the I Swear and Drop Leaf riddims respectively). You probably have to be a rootshead to really really appreciate the power of the Hardtimes, and if you can, you'll REALLY appreciate it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Riddim, May 14, 2005

By 

Arthur N. Hylton "WiZ KID" (Whidbey Island, Washington) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Riddim Driven: Hardtimes (Audio CD)

This is one of the wickedest Riddims to come out of JA for the culture scene in a while. Of course the risins superstar "I-Wayne" Kills the track. You also have some good songs by Richie Spice, Chuck Fender and Anthony Cruz. I advise everyone to cop this one