Middle Passage Riddim Pt. 2 sees Rakspring Records returning to the roots corridor with a four-track juggling that keeps the message squarely in focus. The label has already been delivering steady reggae through releases such as Rakspring Rock and later singles from Errol Lamzi and Daweh Congo, and this project settles naturally into that same corner of the catalogue: conscious, song-led, and pitched more to the sound system faithful than the crossover crowd.
The cast brings together Abel Miller, Christopher Federal, Black Stallion and Errol Lamzi, each offering songs that move around life, struggle, love and survival. Abel Miller’s About My Life gives the riddim its most intimate moment, while Christopher Federal’s Simplicity Of Life leans even further into a meditative mood. Black Stallion’s Fighting War sharpens the edges, and Errol Lamzi rounds things off with Undeniable Love, bringing a little warmth to offset the weightier themes.
On the musical side, the riddim comes across as earthy and contemplative, driven by a patient one-drop pulse, a lean low end and enough open space for each vocalist to land their lines cleanly. It’s the sort of production that lets the lyrics carry real heft, which fits the subject matter perfectly. Instead of going for a big festival-ready lift, Rakspring keeps the arrangement stripped back and steady, allowing the voices to take centre stage. For anyone who prefers their riddims conscious and rooted, this one sits right at home in that lineage.
