Shabba Ranks

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, like some of his dancehall contemporaries in Jamaica. He was a protégé of DJ Josey Wales. His original stage name was Co-Pilot. The Dem Bow riddim is an integral and inseparable part of reggaeton, so much so that it has become its defining characteristic. The song name itself is lent to a subgenre of reggaeton from the Dominican Republic, Dominican dembow.

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. 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. He was featured in the remix alongside Migos and Busta Rhymes on 23 November 2013. In August 2013, he was reportedly working on a new album.

Controversy Ranks has been controversial for homophobia, particularly violent attitudes towards homosexuals. The 1990 song "Wicked Inna Bed" includes lyrics about shooting gay men.

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 apologised, after realising that his comments might advocate "the killing of gays and lesbians and any human being in retrospect".

Personal life Ranks and his wife, Michelle, have two sons Rexton Jr and Jahwon.

Awards Year Award Category Work Result 1992 Grammy Award Best Reggae Album As Raw as Ever 1993 Grammy Award Best Reggae Album X-tra Naked

Discography

Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUS US R&B US Reggae AUS UK Mr. Maximum Released: 1992 Label: Greensleeves Formats: CD, LP, cassette — 56 — — — Rough & Ready Volume 1 Released: July 14, 1992 Label: Epic Formats: CD, LP, cassette 78 24 — — 71 X-tra Naked Released: October 1992 Label: Epic Formats: CD, LP, cassette 64 11 14 188 38 RIAA: Gold 1998 Shabba Ranks and Friends 14

Singles

Videos and DVDs 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