Shabba Ranks

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Shabba Ranks (born Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon on 17 January 1966, in Sturgetown, St Ann's, Jamaica) ranks among the most popular dancehall artist coming out of Jamaica. Ranks gained his fame mainly by practicing dee jaying rather than singing tunes similarly to his contemporaries.

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[edit] Biography and music career

Ranks arrived on the Jamaican and international stages in the late 1980's with a number of fellow artists. These include the British vocalist Maxi Priest; reggae singers Cocoa Tea, Crystal, and Mykal Rose and R&B singer Johnny Gill; in addition to working with luminaries Chuck Berry and American rappers KRS-One and Chubb Rock. His biggest hit non-Jamaican hit was "Mr. Loverman", although in Jamaica and for many reggae lovers, this was not his best work. Other, more appreciated tracks by reggae enthusiasts, include "Respect", "Pirates Anthem", "Trailor Load A Girls", "Wicked ina Bed", "Caan Dun", and "Ting A Ling".

His later reputation was badly damaged by his explicitly homophobic views and lyrics. This was evidenced by a particularly notorious incident on the Channel 4 programme 'The Word' where he appeared to advocate the crucifixion of homosexuals and was condemned for his comments by presenter Mark Lamarr. On tracks like "No Mama Man", a sample of such views persists:

"Don't give a love to a man if you nuh seh him a mama man"
"If Jamaica would a legalize gun / to kill battyboy would be the greatest fun"

Another example of these views is in the song "Wicked inna bed":

"Inna me fi bed me no want Alfred/ me no want Tony/ me no want Ted/ me no promote Mama Man/ I leave Mama man fi dead/ BAM BAM! me lick a shot on a mama man's head"

Following this episode, and subsequent negative media coverage, his career never fully recovered. He was eventually dropped by his American record label, Epic Records, in 1996. However, his previous work netted him at least two Grammy Awards. Anti-homosexuality is a common viewpoint in the reggae-dancehall community in Jamaica; Shabba Ranks is not the only artist to have referred to such matters in song. Later reggae artists that have come under criticism for their homophobic views include Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Elephant Man and Sizzla. (See also LGBT rights in Jamaica.)

Wicked Inna Bed is featured on the Reggae radio station K-JAH Radio West in popular videogame Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, released in October 2004.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

  • 1989 "Peanie Peanie" - Shabba Ranks - Jammys.
  • 1990 "Roots & Culture" - Shabba Ranks - Digital B.
  • 1991 "She's A Woman" - Scritti Politti Featuring Shabba Ranks - UK Number 20.
  • 1991 "Trailer Load A Girls" - Shabba Ranks - UK Number 63.
  • 1991 "Housecall" - Shabba Ranks Featuring Maxi Priest - UK Number 31 - US Number 37.
  • 1992 "Just Reality" - Shabba Ranks - Digital B.
  • 1992 "Love Punaany Bad" - Shabba Ranks - Jammys.
  • 1992 "Mr Loverman" - Shabba Ranks Featuring Chevelle Franklyn - UK Number 23 - US Number 40.
  • 1992 "Slow And Sexy" - Shabba Ranks Featuring Johnny Gill - UK Number 17 - US 33.
  • 1992 "Shine & Crisis" - Shabba Ranks - Shang.
  • 1993 "I Was A King" - Eddie Murphy Featuring Shabba Ranks - UK Number 64.
  • 1993 "Mr Loverman" - re-issue - Shabba Ranks - UK Number 3.
  • 1993 "Housecall" - remix - Shabba Ranks Featuring Maxi Priest - UK Number 8.
  • 1993 "What'cha Gonna Do" - Shabba Ranks Featuring Queen Latifah - UK Number 21.
  • 1993 "Family Affair" - Shabba Ranks Featuring Patra And Terri & Monica - UK Number 18 - US Number 84.
  • 1995 "Let's Get It On" - Shabba Ranks - UK Number 22 - US Number 81.
  • 1995 "Shine Eye Gal" - Shabba Ranks Featuring Mykal Rose - UK Number 46.
  • 1996 "Heart Of A Lion" - Shabba Ranks - Digital B.
  • 1997 "So Jah Say" - Shabba Ranks - Brick Wall.

[edit] Albums

  • 1988 Rappin' With the Ladies
  • 1990 Just Reality
  • 1990 Golden Touch
  • 1991 Shabba Ranks & J.C. Lodge
  • 1991 Best Baby Father
  • 1991 Housecall
  • 1991 As Raw As Ever - UK Number 51.
  • 1992 Rough And Ready Volume 1 - UK Number 71.
  • 1993 X-tra Naked - UK Number 38.
  • 1993 Rough And Ready Volume 2
  • 1995 A Mi Shabba
  • 1998 Get Up Stand Up
  • 1999 Shabba Ranks And Friends - compilation

[edit] Trivia

[edit] External links

[edit] References

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