Shabba Ranks
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Shabba Ranks is a Popular Award-Winning Jamaican dancehall recording artist who rose to fame via his hit album, As Raw As Ever.
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[edit] About
Shabba Ranks or "Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon" in real life was born on January 17, 1966 in Sturgetown, St. Ann, Jamaica to "Ivan Gordon" and "Constance Christie Gordon". Years later, his family moved, to the Kingston ghetto of Trenchtown. By age 12, he was fascinated by the sound system DJs who spun records in local clubs, and often chatted on the mic over the backing tracks.
In 1979, when he was 14 years old, Ranks recorded his first song as Co-pilot, "Heat under Sufferers Feet," which was later released as a single on the Roots Melody label. He soon changed his name to Shabba Ranks, and caught the attention of his idol "Josey Wales", who took the young toaster under his management. Jpsey introduced Shabba to a producer named, "King Jammy", who helped Ranks record tunes like "Holda Fresh.". Later on, he released his first single, "Original Fresh."
In 1989, Shabba released his mega-hit single, "Wicked inna Bed," which became his trademark song. Two more hits, "Pirate's Anthem" and "Mr. Loverman," followed, inserting Ranks as a force in popular Jamaican reggae music. He released 50 singles between 1989 and 1991. In 1991, he released his album, As Raw As Ever which chartered at #1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. It features the single, "Housecall" which made it to the Top Five of the R&B Charts. The album was awarded a Grammy for Best Reggae Album, making Ranks the first dancehall artist ever to notch a win.
His next album, X-Tra Naked was released 1n 1992 which features the singles, "Slow and Sexy", "Muscle Grip," "Ting-a-Ling," and a duet with Queen Latifah, "What 'Cha Gonna Do?". His next album, A Mi Shabba was released in 1995 which landed at #2 on Top Reggae Albums Chart. After that, four more hit albums were released like, King of Dancehall in 1998, Get Up Stand Up also in that year, Shabba Ranks and Friends in 1999 and Coverman.
[edit] Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Grammy Awards | Best Reggae Album for "As Raw As Ever" |
| 1992 | Grammy Awards | Best Reggae Album for "X-Tra Naked". |
[edit] Chart Toppers
| Yea | The Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | Top Reggae Albums | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 89 | 1 | - | As Raw As Ever |
| 1992 | 64 | 11 | - | X-tra Naked |
| 1995 | 133 | 25 | 2 | A Mi Shabba |
[edit] News
[edit] Tours & Concerts
There are no current tour and concert schedules for Shabba Ranks.
[edit] Announcements
There are no announcements as of this time
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
 1988 VP |
 July 1, 1991 VP |
 1991 Epic |
 1991 VP |
 July 1991 VP |
 October 23, 1991 Epic |
 October 6, 1992 Epic |
 1993 Critique |
 June 1995 Epic |
 October 6, 1998 Celluloid |
 November 3, 1998 Artists Only |
 January 26, 1999 Sony |
 June 26, 1999 Sony Music |
[edit] Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Trailer Load A Girls | Sony |
| 1991 | Roots in Culture | VP |
| 1992 | Mr. Loverman | CBS |
| 1994 | Fanciness | Hot Productions |
| 1994 | Family Affair | Atlas |
| 1994 | Ram Dancehall | Epic |
| 1995 | Roots and Culture | VP |
| 2000 | Caan Dunn Dance Hall | VP |
[edit] Compilations & Live Releases
 December 12, 1995 VP |
 May 9, 2000 |
 August 7, 2001 Epic |
