Riddimentary: Diplo Selects Greensleeves

Between 2004 and 2010, Diplo ascended the ladder to DJ superstardom with enviable skill, going from a scrappy underground contender with a mercurial sound to a continually in-demand DJ and producer who has worked with the likes of M.I.A., Santigold, Snoop Dogg, and even Shakira. Thankfully, Diplo hasn’t completely disappeared into the pop music jetset; his recent work keeps much of the genre-roving curiosity that initially brought him fame. Riddimentary, an album-length mixtape that finds Diplo plundering the back catalog of venerable reggae imprint Greensleeves, is a testament to Diplo’s deep knowledge and longstanding admiration of early-‘80s Jamaican dancehall. Those seeking DJ pyrotechnics will have to look elsewhere, as Diplo merely acts as a selector on this outing. However, his taste is impeccable, and the tracklist here includes familiar classics like John Holt’s anthemic drug-war critique “Police in Helicopter” and Johnny Osbourne’s instructional dance tune “Water Pumping," as well as a host of more obscure selections that ought to satisfy the needs of longstanding dancehall fans.