Based on the buzz doing the dancehall rounds, the WYFL ‘riddim’ will be the hottest beat for 2026.

Veteran bass guitarist Wormbass had to be on it.

Show Time is the name of his song on the multi-artiste project, produced by DJ Mac. The difference from the other tracks is that Wormbass adds his touch to the rhythm.

“The addition of the bass wasn’t about enhancement of the riddim, as I found that DJ Mac was already on the right path. Adding the bass was more of me adding my own signature style as a bassist than anything else,” said the lanky musician.

Show Time is a return to hardcore dancehall for Wormbass, whose recent songs as an artiste and producer have favoured conventional reggae.

He earned his dancehall bonafides as the energetic leader of the Blaze Band, Beenie Man’s official backing unit in the 1990s. That aggregation also backed many popular acts such as Sanchez.

“It will always be safe to say that Wormbass has never left dancehall as it is a core part of my musical foundation. What the DJ Mac riddim has allowed me to do is bridge my experience in dancehall with the current dancehall generation,” he said.

The WYFL rhythm has songs by the major players in dancehall music including Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Cham, Spice and Kabaka Pyramid.

From St Thomas, Wormbass whose real name is Delroy Nevin, branched out as an artiste 10 years ago, and has since released many songs, an EP and an album.

In recent years, he has toured with roots acts Winston McAnuff and the Inna De Yard roots collective which includes McAnuff, Cedric Myton and Kiddus-I.

— Howard Campbell