KINGSTON, Jamaica — International reggae and dancehall superstar Sean Paul, through his Dutty Rock Productions imprint, has released “Brawlin Riddim,” a full riddim compilation that channels the raw energy and authentic spirit of early 1990s dancehall while firmly planting its roots in the present. The riddim, released on May 13, 2026, is available now on all major digital streaming platforms.
The compilation boasts a formidable lineup that spans dancehall generations. Veterans Busy Signal, Spragga Benz, and Charly Black appear alongside stalwarts Chi Ching Ching, Leftside, Future Fambo, and Looga Man, with rising voices Bush Wakka and Ras Ajai rounding out the roster. Sean Paul himself appears on the lead track, “Press Back.”
The riddim was built from the ground up by Sean Paul and recorded by dancehall heavyweight Andre “Suku” Ward Gray at Dutty Rock’s Kingston studios. Grammy-winning engineer Andre “Dre Day” handled the mix and master. The production carries a notably historic texture — incorporating vocal samples from Lion Face of King Addies fame, as well as the Indian Water Drum of the late, legendary Sly Dunbar, elements that lend the riddim a resonance that goes beyond music into memory.
“The Riddim stand out because it have di flavor, you know. It have the original dancehall flavor, even without that Sly sample. It just captures the energy of that era. Early ’90s type of vibe,” said Sean Paul.
The inclusion of Sly Dunbar’s Indian Water Drum carries added emotional weight. Dunbar, one of the greatest drummers in Jamaican music history and one-half of the legendary Sly & Robbie duo, passed away before the riddim’s completion. Sean Paul has described “Brawlin Riddim” as a tribute to Dunbar’s legacy and to the golden years of dancehall that he helped define.
“It’s kind of like a salute to Sly. By using those Indian Water drums in the way that him use it is a nod in his direction,” said Sean Paul.
The cross-generational nature of the compilation is itself a statement on the enduring power of the riddim format. Pairing icons like Spragga Benz — long regarded as one of Jamaica’s most gifted and underrated lyricists — with newer voices such as Chi Ching Ching demonstrates how the shared riddim tradition continues to serve as common ground for artists across eras.
“Brawlin Riddim” is available now on all major digital streaming platforms at https://link.milkhoneyrecs.com/brawlin.
