Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon OD[citation needed] (born 17 January 1966),[2] better known by his stage name Shabba Ranks, is a Jamaican dancehall musician. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was one of the most popular Jamaican musicians in the world. Throughout his prominence in his home country as a dancehall artist, he gained popularity in North America with his studio album Just Reality in 1990. He released other studio albums, including As Raw as Ever and X-tra Naked, which both won a Grammy Award as Best Reggae Album in 1992 and 1993, respectively. He is notoriously popular for "Mr. Loverman" and "Ting-A-Ling", which were globally acclaimed and deemed his signature songs.[3]
Shabba Ranks | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon |
| Born | 17 January 1966 Saint Ann, Jamaica |
| Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Dancehall musician |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | Epic (1991–96) |
Early life
editShabba Ranks was born in Sturge Town, Saint Ann, Jamaica, and raised in Seaview Gardens, Kingston.[4][5]
His father, Ivan Gordon, was a mason who died in 1990.[6] His mother, Constance "Mama Christie" Christie, remained in Seaview after Shabba's success, feeding the community with money sent from her son after his emigration. She was the subject of the 2015 hit song "Shabba Madda Pot" from the dancehall artist Dexta Daps.[7]
Career
editHe gained his fame mainly by toasting (or rapping) rather than singing, like some of his dancehall contemporaries in Jamaica. He was a protégé of DJ Josey Wales. His original stage name was Co-Pilot.[2] His international career started in the late 1980s, along with a number of fellow Jamaicans including reggae singers Cocoa Tea and Crystal. Ranks also worked with Chuck Berry and American rappers KRS-One and Chubb Rock.
He secured a recording contract with Epic Records in 1989.[2]
The stylistic origins of the genre reggaeton can be traced back to the 1990 song "Dem Bow", from Ranks' album Just Reality. Produced by Bobby "Digital" Dixon, the Dem Bow riddim became so popular in Puerto Rican freestyle sessions that early Puerto Rican reggaeton was simply known as "Dembow".[8] The Dem Bow riddim is an integral and inseparable part of reggaeton, so much so that it has become its defining characteristic.[9]
His biggest hit single outside of Jamaica was the reggae fusion smash "Mr. Loverman". Other big tracks include "Housecall" with Maxi Priest, "Slow and Sexy" with Johnny Gill, "Respect", "Pirates Anthem", "Trailer Load a Girls", "Wicked inna Bed", "Caan Dun", and "Ting A Ling". He won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1992 for As Raw as Ever and in 1993 for X-tra Naked.[2]
In 1993, Ranks scored another hit in the Addams Family Values soundtrack to which he contributed a rap/reggae version of the Sly and the Family Stone hit "Family Affair".[10] His third album for Epic, A Mi Shabba, was released in 1995. He was dropped by the label in 1996. Epic went on to release a greatest hits album, entitled Shabba Ranks and Friends in 1999.
Ranks made a partial comeback in 2007 when he appeared on a song called "Clear the Air" by Busta Rhymes, which also featured Akon. Shabba released a single on Big Ship's Pepper Riddim called "None A Dem", in April 2011. In 2012, Shabba was featured on Tech N9ne's EP E.B.A.H. on the track "Boy Toy". In 2013, Shabba was also mentioned in A$AP Ferg's song "Shabba," and has a cameo near the end of the music video.[11] He was featured in the remix alongside Migos and Busta Rhymes on 23 November 2013.[12] In August 2013, he was reportedly working on a new album.[13]
Controversy
editRanks has been controversial for homophobia, particularly violent attitudes towards homosexuals. The 1990 song "Wicked Inna Bed" includes lyrics about shooting gay men.[14]
In 1992, during an appearance on Channel 4 music show The Word, he was asked to give his thoughts on the subject of the hit song, "Boom Bye Bye", by Buju Banton. Shabba held a copy of a Bible which he carried with him and stated that the "word of God" advocated the "crucifixion of homosexuals". He also alluded that he advocates the progression of the Jamaican people and freedom of speech but did not conclude that being against homosexuality would be in question of exclusion, according to bible laws. He was condemned for his comments by presenter Mark Lamarr, who said, "That's absolute crap and you know it." Following these comments, Ranks was dropped from a Bobby Brown concert as a performer and faced altercations with his label, Sony Music. Ranks subsequently apologized, after realizing that his comments might advocate "the killing of gays and lesbians and any human being in retrospect".[2][15][16]
Personal life
editRanks and his wife, Michelle, have two sons Rexton Jr and Jahwon.[4] He currently resides in New York City.[17]
Awards
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Grammy Award | Best Reggae Album | As Raw as Ever | Won |
| 1993 | Grammy Award | Best Reggae Album | X-tra Naked | Won |
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [18] |
US R&B [19] |
US Reggae [20] |
AUS [21] |
UK [22] | |||
| Rough & Rugged (with Chaka Demus) |
|
— | — | — | — | — | |
| Rappin' with the Ladies |
|
— | 75 | — | — | — | |
| Best Baby Father |
|
— | — | — | — | — | |
| Holding On (with Home T and Cocoa Tea) |
|
— | — | — | — | — | |
| Just Reality |
|
— | — | — | — | — | |
| Golden Touch |
|
— | — | — | — | — | |
| As Raw as Ever |
|
89 | 1 | — | — | 51 | |
| Mr. Maximum |
|
— | 56 | — | — | — | |
| Rough & Ready Volume 1 |
|
78 | 24 | — | — | 71 | |
| X-tra Naked |
|
64 | 11 | 14 | 188 | 38 |
|
| Rough & Ready Volume 2 |
|
— | 84 | 10 | — | — | |
| A Mi Shabba |
|
133 | 25 | 2 | — | — | |
| Get Up Stand Up |
|
— | — | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||||||
Compilation albums
edit| Year | Album | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Reggae [24] | ||
| 1998 | Shabba Ranks and Friends | 14 |
Singles
edit| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [25] |
US R&B [26] |
US Rap [27] |
AUS [21] |
UK [22] | |||
| 1989 | "Peanie Peanie" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Peanie Peanie Riddim |
| 1990 | "Roots & Culture" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Just Reality |
| 1991 | "She's a Woman" (with Scritti Politti) | ― | ― | ― | ― | 20 | Non-album single |
| "Trailer Load a Girls" | ― | ― | ― | ― | 63 | As Raw as Ever | |
| "Housecall" (featuring Maxi Priest) | 37 | 4 | ― | 153 | 31 | ||
| 1992 | "The Jam" (featuring KRS-One) | ― | 52 | 1 | ― | ― | |
| "Mr. Loverman" (featuring Deborahe Glasgow) | 40 | 2 | ― | 163 | 23 | Rough & Ready, Vol. 1/Deep Cover | |
| "Ting A Ling" | ― | ― | 25 | ― | ― | X-tra Naked | |
| "Slow and Sexy" (featuring Johnny Gill) | 33 | 4 | ― | 181 | 17 | ||
| 1993 | "I Was a King" (with Eddie Murphy) | ― | 61 | ― | ― | 64 | Non-album single |
| "Mr. Loverman" (re-release) | ― | ― | ― | ― | 3 | X-tra Naked | |
| "Muscle Grip" | ― | 67 | 29 | ― | ― | ||
| "Housecall" (remix; featuring Maxi Priest) | ― | ― | ― | ― | 8 | Non-album single | |
| "What'cha Gonna Do" (featuring Queen Latifah) | ― | 62 | 14 | ― | 21 | X-tra Naked | |
| "Family Affair" (featuring Patra and Terri & Monica) | 84 | 16 | 6 | ― | 18 | Non-album single | |
| 1995 | "Let's Get It On" | 81 | 27 | ― | ― | 22 | A Mi Shabba |
| "Shine Eye Gal" (featuring Mykal Rose) | ― | ― | ― | ― | 46 | ||
| 1996 | "Heart of a Lion" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | Non-album single |
| 1997 | "So Jah Say" | ― | ― | ― | ― | ― | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | |||||||
Videos and DVDs
edit- 2002: Shabba Ranks: Dancehall Ruff – Best of Shabba Ranks (DVD)
- 2001: The Return of Shabba Ranks (DVD)
- 1994: Darker Side of Black
- 1992: Shabba Ranks: Naked and Ready
- 1992: Shabba Ranks: Fresh & Wild
- 1992: Shabba Ranks vs. Ninja Man: Super Clash Round
- 1990: Reggae Showdown, Vol. 4: Shabba at Showdown (DVD)
- 1987: Prince Jammy
References
edit- ^ "Shabba Ranks - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e MacLeod, Erin (30 July 2013). "Shabba Ranks". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "Making 'Mr Loverman', Shabba's biggest song to date". Jamaica-gleaner.com. 31 March 2019. Archived from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ a b Henry, Davina (17 July 2012). "The Dancehall Emperor Is Back!". The Gleaner. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Campbell, Howard (16 July 2021). "Seaview music goes abroad". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ Louie, Elaine (16 December 1993). "Thanks, Mom. Here's Your New House". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ Deleon, Rene (6 May 2016). "'Shabba Madda Pot' more than just a song". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ Marshall, Wayne (19 January 2006). "The Rise of Reggaeton". The Phoenix. p. 4. Archived from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
- ^ Carimanica, Jon (12 January 2006). "Grow Dem Bow". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (13 February 2019). "The Number Ones: Sly & The Family Stone's 'Family Affair'". Stereogum. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "A$AP Ferg feat. A$AP Rocky – Shabba". YouTube. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- ^ "A$AP Ferg – Shabba (Remix) (feat. Shabba Ranks, Busta Rhymes & Migos) – Listen". AudioMack. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- ^ "Shabba plans new album". JamaicaObserver.com. 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 24 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- ^ Chunnu, Winsome Marcia (February 2021). "Battyboy must die! Dancehall, class and religion in Jamaican homophobia". European Journal of Cultural Studies. 24 (1): 123–142. doi:10.1177/1367549420951578. S2CID 225243371.
- ^ "The Word". Channel 4. 1992. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
- ^ "Buju Banton Shabba Ranks - video Dailymotion". Dailymotion.com. 17 September 2014. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Meminger, Dean (2 July 2017). "Soul's Survivors: Shabba Ranks Sees Hip-Hop as Younger Brother of His Dancehall". NY1. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "Chart History: Shabba Ranks - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Chart History: Shabba Ranks - Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Chart History: Shabba Ranks - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Shabba Ranks ARIA Chart history (complete to 2024)". ARIA. Retrieved 26 July 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 450. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ a b "American certifications – Shabba Ranks". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "Chart History: Shabba Ranks - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Chart History: Shabba Ranks - Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Chart History: Shabba Ranks - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Chart History: Shabba Ranks - Hot Rap Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
External links
edit