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Shabba Ranks
Artist Profile

Shabba Ranks

1984–present

Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon (born 17 January 1966), 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. Although his early success ensured he was prominent in his home country as a dancehall artist, he gained popularity in North America with his album Just Reality in 1990. He released other 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.

Early life

Shabba Ranks was born in Sturge Town, Saint Ann, Jamaica, and raised in Seaview Gardens, Kingston.

His father, Ivan Gordon, was a mason who died in 1990. 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.

Career

He gained his fame mainly by toasting (or rapping) rather than singing...

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Dancehall

Listen to Shabba Ranks

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Albums

Get Up Stand Up

3 tracks · 1998

A Mi Shabba

12 tracks · 1995

Rough & Ready, Volume II

4 tracks · 1993

Love Punanny Bad

6 tracks · 1993

X-Tra Naked

11 tracks · 1992

Rough & Ready

6 tracks · 1992

Mr. Maximum

5 tracks · 1992

As Raw as Ever

12 tracks · 1991

Golden Touch

8 tracks · 1990

Just Reality

8 tracks · 1990

Rappin' With the Ladies

7 tracks · 1990

Best Baby Father

10 tracks · 1989

Rough and Rugged

2 tracks · 1989

Most played

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Riddims Shabba Ranks voiced

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Cuss Cuss Riddim

17 versions · 2002

Full Up Riddim

16 versions · 1994 · VP Records

Darker Shade Of Black Riddim

16 versions · 2001 · VP Records

Swing Easy Riddim

15 versions · 1995

General Riddim

13 versions · 1993

Hot Milk Riddim

11 versions · 1981 · Greensleeves

College Rock Riddim

9 versions · 1992

Punanny Riddim

8 versions · 1986 · King Jammy

Songs on JamaicansMusic

101 playable tracks in the catalog.

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From the archive

Career timeline

Stories about Shabba Ranks from the JamaicansMusic archive, oldest first · 2012–2014

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  1. 2012

    Music

    The Difference between Reggae and Dancehall

    A surge of Jamaican talent in the likes of the legendary Bob Marley, Toots, Dennis Brown, Garnett Silk and Gregory Issacs infiltrated international borders and introduced the world to a new genre, Reggae. Shortly after the world got a taste of a different spice from the island when, King Yellow Man, Shabba Ranks, and later BeenieMan, Bounty Killer, SeanPaul and Elephant Man began to make waves overseas with Dancehall.

  2. 2013

    Music

    Shabba Ranks…The Emperor of Dancehall

    With tracks like Ting-A-Ling and Mr. Loverman coursing through his veins and Trailor Load a Girls and Wicked In Bed oozing through his pores, Shabba Ranks arguably stands as the soundtrack of Dancehall.

    Music

    Shabba Ranks readies album after 15 years

    Known for his high-energy performances mixed with pelvic gyrations similar to that of Elvis in his prime, Shabba's authentic Dancehall flavour - which had earn him two Grammy Awards and numerous accolades – is set to hit shelves sometime in the near future.

    Music

    Shabba Ranks waves his 'Emperor' flag, demands the best for Dancehall

    "Don't let no one sleep on your dreams…don't let someone who is dreaming nightmares let you wake up in disaster…go for yours, do it to the best of your ability and you will obtain nothing more than solid life," passionately spoke an animated Shabba Ranks in hopes of inspiring a curious listening ear.

    Music

    Shabba Ranks adds verse to A$AP Ferg's 'Shabba' Remix

    A$AP Ferg's "Shabba" single spun as one of 2013 biggest bangers with the official video sporting a very rare cameo from The Dancehall Emperor himself. Now near 5 months after the single's release Shabba jumps onto the official remix.

  3. 2014

    Music

    Shabba Ranks, Lady Saw, Tarrus Riley, Konshens and Assassin team up for the 'Greatest Creation' Riddim

    "I haven't done any dancehall rhythms since [2009] because I was turned off by the vibes that came about from the [Silent River] rhythm. Since then, I have been focusing more on artiste management and the Reggae side of production," Greatest Creation producer, Shane Brown, explains.

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