Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon (born 17 January 1966),[2] better known by his stage name Shabba Ranks, is a Jamaicandancehall 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 two studio albums, 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]
His father, Ivan Gordon, was a mason who died in 1990.[7] 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 dancehall artist Dexta Daps.[8]
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.[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.
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".[9] The Dem Bow riddim is an integral and inseparable part of reggaeton, so much so that it has become its defining characteristic.[10]
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.[12] He was featured in the remix alongside Migos and Busta Rhymes on 23 November 2013.[13] In August 2013, he was reportedly working on a new album.[14]
Controversy
Ranks has been controversial for homophobia, particularly violent attitudes towards homosexuals. The 1990 song "Wicked in Bed" includes lyrics about shooting gay men.[15]
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][16][17]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
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
References
^"Shabba Ranks - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
^ abcdeMacLeod, Erin (30 July 2013). "Shabba Ranks". Pitchfork. 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. from the original on 10 September 2019. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
^ abHenry, Davina (17 July 2012). "The Dancehall Emperor Is Back!". The Gleaner. 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.
^Meminger, Dean (2 July 2017). "Soul's Survivors: Shabba Ranks Sees Hip-Hop as Younger Brother of His Dancehall". NY1. 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. from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
^Carimanica, Jon (12 January 2006). "Grow Dem Bow". The Village Voice. 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. from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
^"A$AP Ferg feat. A$AP Rocky – Shabba". YouTube. from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
^. AudioMack. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
^"Shabba plans new album". JamaicaObserver.com. 16 August 2013. 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.
^"The Word". Channel 4. 1992. from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
^"Buju Banton Shabba Ranks - video Dailymotion". Dailymotion.com. from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 21 March 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.
^"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
Shabba Ranks biography at the AMG website
Wikiquote has quotations related to Shabba Ranks.
April 23, 2023
shabba, ranks, rexton, rawlston, fernando, gordon, born, january, 1966, better, known, stage, name, jamaican, dancehall, musician, late, 1980s, early, 1990s, most, popular, jamaican, musicians, world, throughout, prominence, home, country, dancehall, artist, g. Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon 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 two studio albums 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 RanksODBirth nameRexton Rawlston Fernando GordonBorn 1966 01 17 17 January 1966 age 57 Saint Ann JamaicaOriginKingston JamaicaGenresReggae dancehall reggae fusion ragga 1 Occupation s Dancehall musicianYears active1985 presentLabelsEpic 1991 96 Contents 1 Early life and family 2 Career 3 Controversy 4 Awards 5 Discography 5 1 Studio albums 5 2 Compilation albums 5 3 Singles 5 4 Videos and DVDs 6 References 7 External linksEarly life and family EditShabba Ranks was born in Sturge Town Saint Ann Jamaica and raised in Seaview Gardens Kingston 4 5 He and his wife Michelle have two sons Rexton Jr and Jahwon 4 He currently resides in New York City 6 His father Ivan Gordon was a mason who died in 1990 7 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 dancehall artist Dexta Daps 8 Career EditHe gained his fame mainly by toasting or rapping rather than singing like some of his dancehall contemporaries in Jamaica He was a protege 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 9 The Dem Bow riddim is an integral and inseparable part of reggaeton so much so that it has become its defining characteristic 10 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 11 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 12 He was featured in the remix alongside Migos and Busta Rhymes on 23 November 2013 13 In August 2013 he was reportedly working on a new album 14 Controversy EditRanks has been controversial for homophobia particularly violent attitudes towards homosexuals The 1990 song Wicked in Bed includes lyrics about shooting gay men 15 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 16 17 Awards EditYear Award Category Work Result1992 Grammy Award Best Reggae Album As Raw as Ever Won1993 Grammy Award Best Reggae Album X tra Naked WonDiscography EditStudio albums Edit Title Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUS 18 US R amp B 19 US Reggae 20 UK 21 Rough amp Rugged with Chaka Demus Released 1988 Label Jammy s Records Super Power Formats CD LP cassette Rappin with the Ladies Released 1988 Label Jammy s Records Super Power Formats CD LP cassette 75 Best Baby Father Released 1988 Label Greensleeves Formats CD LP cassette Holding On with Home T and Cocoa Tea Released 1989 Label Greensleeves Formats CD LP cassette Just Reality Released 1990 Label VP Formats CD LP cassette Golden Touch Released 1991 Label VP Formats CD LP cassette As Raw as Ever Released May 21 1991 Label Epic Formats CD LP cassette 89 1 51 RIAA Gold 22 Mr Maximum Released 1992 Label Greensleeves Formats CD LP cassette 56 Rough amp Ready Volume 1 Released July 14 1992 Label Epic Formats CD LP cassette 78 24 71X tra Naked Released October 1992 Label Epic Formats CD LP cassette 64 11 14 38 RIAA Gold 22 Rough amp Ready Volume 2 Released October 26 1993 Label Epic Formats CD LP cassette 84 10 A Mi Shabba Released June 13 1995 Label Epic Formats CD LP cassette 133 25 2 Get Up Stand Up Released November 1998 Label Artists Only Formats CD LP cassette digital download denotes releases that did not chart Compilation albums Edit Year Album Chart positionsUS Reggae 23 1998 Shabba Ranks and Friends 14Singles Edit Year Title Peak chart positions AlbumUS 24 US R amp B 25 US Rap 26 UK 21 1989 Peanie Peanie Peanie Peanie Riddim1990 Roots amp Culture Just Reality1991 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 311992 The Jam featuring KRS One 52 1 Mr Loverman featuring Deborahe Glasgow 40 2 23 Rough amp Ready Vol 1 Deep Cover Ting A Ling 25 X tra Naked Slow and Sexy featuring Johnny Gill 33 4 171993 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 amp Monica 84 16 6 18 Non album single1995 Let s Get It On 81 27 22 A Mi Shabba Shine Eye Gal featuring Mykal Rose 461996 Heart of a Lion Non album single1997 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 amp Wild 1992 Shabba Ranks vs Ninja Man Super Clash Round 1990 Reggae Showdown Vol 4 Shabba at Showdown DVD 1987 Prince JammyReferences 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 Meminger Dean 2 July 2017 Soul s Survivors Shabba Ranks Sees Hip Hop as Younger Brother of His Dancehall NY1 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 amp 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 amp 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 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 Archived from the original on 26 June 2021 Retrieved 21 March 2021 Chart History Shabba Ranks Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved 14 September 2022 Chart History Shabba Ranks Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Retrieved 14 September 2022 Chart History Shabba Ranks Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard Retrieved 14 September 2022 a b Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp 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 amp 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 amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard Retrieved 14 September 2022 Chart History Shabba Ranks Hot Rap Songs Billboard Retrieved 14 September 2022 External links EditShabba Ranks biography at the AMG website Shabba Ranks at Rolling stone com Wikiquote has quotations related to Shabba Ranks Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shabba Ranks amp oldid 1143548433, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
