REGGAE label Downsound Records is officially announcing that they’ve reopened their Kingston recording studio with the release of the VSOP riddim.

Committed to developing and nurturing fresh talent, The riddim was produced by the label’s team of young producers and engineers, namely Roel Powell and Kimani Smith, and features artistes from Downsound’s talent pool — 2011 Magnum Kings and Queens runner-up Specialist, Toya, G Warren, and Motion, as well as veteran deejay Harry Toddler. Adding sheer power to the VSOP line-up are dancehall king Beenie Man, and rising stars Jah Vinci and Khago.

You A Life, the riddim’s lead single, is Toya’s bold and sassy declaration for women who “a nuh wife, dem a life”. Specialist, whose debut single Street Hustle is currently number three on the Jamaica Music Countdown, hits VSOP with Gallis Anthem, geared toward his substantial teen fan base. Beenie Man’s Be Ready, and Specialist’s Time Hard are political/social commentary on issues affecting the ‘ghetto youth’ and poor people.

Other singles come from Harry Toddler, G Warren, Motion, Jah Vinci, and Khago round out the compilation.

“Downsound has been focusing on new talent, recruiting producers, engineers, and songwriters fresh out of school,” says Downsound Records Senior staff producer Cordell ‘Skatta’ Burrell, best known for the Coolie Dance Riddim which spawned the #4 Billboard Top 100 single Move Your Body by Nina Sky, and the #57 single Jook Gal from Elephant Man, Twista, and Youngbloodz. “The VSOP Riddim is a collaboration of our young team of producers, and features most of our roster of younger new artistes.”

“Production at DownSound is exciting again — positive vibes, excitement, and everyone contributing to this brand new voice for a brand new generation,” says Downsound Records CEO Josef Bogdanovich.