Sluggy Ranks

Andrew Phillip Gregory (14 December 1966 – 29 July 2012), better known as Sluggy Ranks, was a Jamaican dancehall singer who was a major part of the New York dancehall scene.

Biography

Born in the Rae Town district of East Kingston, Ranks relocated to Brooklyn in 1981.^[1] In 1984 he began recording for the Brooklyn-based Jah Life label and worked with local sound systems such as Mini Mart Hi Power, King Custom Sound and African Love.^[1] He became known for his 'cultural' lyrics, which contrasted with the prevailing 'slack' lyrics of dancehall.^[2][3] In 1988 he worked with producer Whitfield "Witty" Henry on the single "95% Black, 5% White", a commentary on the state of the US prison system.^[1] He went on to record several albums in the 1980s and 1990s, including the Prince Jammy-produced Ghetto Youth Bust in 1994, released on Profile Records.^[1][2][4] His single "Sodom & Gomorrah", recorded on the "Tempo" rhythm, dealt with the confrontation between Super Cat and Nitty Gritty at Count Shelly's record shop that led to Nitty Gritty's death.^[5] In 1997 he contributed to the Easy Star album Easy Star Volume I, and in 2003 to the Easy Star All Stars' Dub Side of the Moon.^[1]

He died on 29 July 2012 as a result of injuries sustained in a car crash in the Stony Hill area of Kingston, aged 44.^[1][6]

Discography

Albums

• Settle Sluggy (1988), Park Heights
• Ghetto Youth Buss (1989), Grade One
• Ghetto Youth Bust (1994), Profile
• Just Call Sluggy (1997), Witty
• My Time (1999), Barry U

Singles

• "True Sound" (198?), Jah Life
• "Draw Fi Mi Bible" (198?), Jah Life
• "Rucumbine" (1987), Music Master - Sluggy & Twitch
• "95% Black, 5% White" (1988), Music Master
• "Don't Be Prejudiced" (1989), Park Heights
• "Ketch Dem Fraid" (1990), Mr. Doo
• "My Time" (1990), Shelly's
• "Iron Curtain" (1990), Libra - with Rev. Badoo
• "Tell Me Now" (1991), Shelly's
• "No Money Na Run" (1991), Rockers Forever
• "Ghetto Youth Bust" (1994), Profile
• "Jah Is Guiding I" (1994), John John
• "Sodom & Gomorrah" (199?), Part II/Gold Shop
• "Titus, Share the Cake" (1995), Secret Rival - with Chuck Fender, Ninja Kid, Tuffest, Mikey Merican, and Terrible Cat
• "Ghetto Youth" (1995), WEA - Booyaka Crew & Sluggy Ranks
• "Weedman" (1995), Secret Rival - Sluggy Ranks & Tuffest
• "The Coming of the Lord" (1997), Barry U
• "Nothing in the World" (2003), Wild Apache
• "Zion Gate" (2006), Total Satisfaction
• "Don´t Want To Be A Shotta" (20??), Digital English
• "Don't Want to be a Shotta part 2" (2010), Digital English
• "Rough Wine" (2010), Witty
• "Done With The Badness" (2011), Digital English
• "Ghetto Youth" (2011), King Kustom
• "Another One Bites The Dust" (2011), 14 Karat
• "Too Chatty Chatty" (2011), 14 Karat
• "Strictly Reggae Music" (2011), Roots Injection

References