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Shabba Ranks

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Shabba Ranks, born Rexton Gordon in 1966, is a Jamaican dancehall musician. He was born in Sturge Town in Saint Ann and grew up in Seaview Gardens in Kingston. He became known for toasting, that is, rapping over a rhythm, and less for singing. He was a protégé of the DJ Josey Wales and at first performed as Co-Pilot. His international career began in the late 1980s, and in 1989 he signed with Epic Records.

Music and breakthrough

His breakthrough in North America came with the album Just Reality from 1990. The albums As Raw as Ever and X-tra Naked won a Grammy for best reggae album in 1992 and 1993. His biggest hit outside Jamaica was Mr. Loverman, a reggae fusion that was played worldwide. Other well-known titles are Housecall with Maxi Priest, Slow and Sexy with Johnny Gill and Ting A Ling. He also worked with Chuck Berry and rappers such as KRS-One and Chubb Rock, and in 1993 he contributed a rap and reggae version of Family Affair to the soundtrack of Addams Family Values. In 1996 Epic dropped him. Later he resurfaced with Busta Rhymes and other artists.

Influence

The song Dem Bow from Just Reality, produced by Bobby Digital Dixon, had a rhythm that became so popular in Puerto Rico that early reggaeton was simply called dembow. That rhythm is still the hallmark of reggaeton. Ranks was also criticised for his statements about homosexuals and for a lyric containing violence against them. His music nevertheless remained influential for dancehall, reggae and hip hop.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Mr. Loverman and notice Ranks's sing-jay delivery: he raps and sings over a rhythm that sounds calm, yet emphatic. Hear how the chorus sticks in your head.

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

Categories: ArtistsDancehallReggaeton