Shadane Hamilton
Who is Shabba Ranks
Shabba Ranks in my opinion is the world most influential Jamaican artist. In this research paper
my focus is on shabba ranks background and come up in music as well as his influenced in
Jamaica, hip hop and dancehalls. shabba works is unique and known worldwide. Shabba real
name is Rexton Rawlston Fernando, he grew up in Trenchtown, the ghetto of Kingston Jamaica
but was born in Sturgeon community of St. Ann Jamaica in 1966. Kingstown the capital and the
largest city in Jamaica is where shabba rank gain exposure with local DJs and their variety of
musical styles like Ska, reggae, dancehall which has big influence on his unique style of music
and appearance. Bob Marley and Jimmy cliff was one of the few artists who influenced shabba
ranks music and style. Jimmy Cliff can be recognized as one of Shabba Ranks' primary
influences, and lots of his own songs consist of Cliff samples and musical compositions. Jimmy
Cliff's groundbreaking music in the dancehall and reggae genres is one way that he has
influenced Shabba Ranks. Jimmy Cliff's early ska and rocksteady tracks, which he released in the
1960s, had a big influence on the style of Jamaican music at the time. Jimmy Cliff continued on
with his unique ideas and pushed beyond the limits of the genre as reggae took off in the period
between the years 1960 and 1970. Bob Marley, one of the most important and recognizable
figures in the history of popular music is the Jamaican singer, songwriter, and musician
Bob Marley started his musical career in the early 1960s as a member of the group The Wailers.
He was born in Nine Mile, Jamaica, in 1945. The social and political challenges of his day had a
significant impact on Marley's music which is similar to shabba ranks politics and beliefs.
Marley died in 1981 at the age of 36 from cancer, but his music was favored by shabba ranks and
has influenced his music style. Bob Marley's influence on Shabba Ranks cannot be ignored when
talking shabba rank and his growth. As an example, Marley's Rastafarian views were embraced
by Shabba Ranks, who added them into his songs. His musical works frequently make a
reference to the Rastafarian belief system, such as the widely known rhythm "Wicked Inna Bed
and “Home T,Coccoa Tea.” Marley's usage of songs with social conscience served as an
inspiration for Shabba Ranks. Many of his songs deal with subjects like poverty, inequality, and
the difficulties that Jamaicans face every day. This is made evident in songs like “Heart of Lion”
by Shabba Ranks https://youtu.be/N3uht6kXaLw?t=58, Bob Marley “Redemption Song”
https://youtu.be/yv5xonFSC4c?t=73 and Jimmy Cliff “Struggling Man”
https://youtu.be/mp_1npHNoqw. Jimmy cliff struggling main is about the title, it’s about the
struggle that Jamaicans face in everyday life as family and as one. In Bob Marley redemption
song is about the hardship ghetto people faces and the anti-establishment attitude, while shabba
ranks heart of lion, is about the tr struggle I ghetto and fight to survive attitude. as do “Get Up,
Stand Up” and “Stir It Up. The three artists share a similar commitment to social and political
themes in their music, as you can see by the songs above these artists often tackled issues of
poverty, inequality, and social justice, violence, sexuality, and the political corruption in Jamaica
and around the world
Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica is often accompanied by a strong emphasis on
the up-beat rhythm, heavy bass drums, and social and political lyrics. Reggae has influenced
many other genres, including rock, hip-hop, and electronic music, and is known for its laid-back
and rhythmic sound. Reggae is the result of unifying mento, ska, rock steady and reggae. Skank
up-beat is what all these genres have in common. The skank up is rhythm pattern featured with
guitars and drum. Great example of this are “one love” with the drum and the guitar and up beat
rhythm aiming for the social commentary with hint of mento and Shabba ranks “Holding On” ft
with Home T and Cocoa T.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Muyzv8-o0ycLinks
“One Love”
https://youtu.be/JQT4NLo1hgA “Holding On”
Shabba rank is unique in my opinion because he was involved un both reggae and transition to
ragga -dancehall or just dancehall which what is called today. This genre has dropped the skank
beat completely, to a distinctive beat, known as the "riddim," to get more faster tempo for
dancing with lyrics being most sexual and explicit. Ragga-Dancehall has grown in popularity all
around the world and had a significant impact on many musical genres, including hip hop and
R&B. It is frequently linked to energized dance moves and passionate performances. Dancehall
music composed of heavy dance beat with little melodic accompaniment, it is the use of
trumpets, trombone and brass instruments. Shabba Ranks paved the way for other dancehall
artists like Sean Paul, Sean Kingston and Buju Banton.
Example of Dancehall
https://youtu.be/wH_0_pijbZY?t=23
“Ting-A-Ling”
Live performance at Apollo 1993
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPQ3o14ksaM
“Get Busy” Sean Paul
Shabba 1990 collaboration with the hip hop group EPMD on the song "Rap Is Outta Control" is
one of the best examples of Shabba Ranks' influence on hip hop. The song helped promote
Shabba Ranks' sound to a larger audience and showcases his distinctive toasting style over a hip-
hop beat.A Tribe Called Quest and Queen Latifah are two hip hop musicians with whom Shabba
Ranks has worked. Hip hop's use of regional dialects and slang in its lyrics was influenced by his
usage of patois and Jamaican slang. Overall, Shabba Ranks' distinct sound and
appearance assisted in connecting the dancehall and hip-hop musical genres, and his impact can
still be heard in today's hip-hop music.
https://youtu.be/O-tETwADoiY
“Cha Gonna Do” shabba Ranks Ft Queen Latifah
Ranks is considered a popular world music artist because of his contributions to the reggae and
dancehall music scenes in Jamaica during the 1980s and 1990s. He was known for his distinctive
style, which blended traditional Jamaican rhythms with more contemporary sounds and lyrics
that often spoke to social and political issues facing his community. The gained international
recognition and appeal, particularly in Europe and the United States, where he collaborated with
popular artists such as Maxi Priest and KRS-One. Wales introduced ranks with some of the
king’s jimmy’s studio produces, and he started recording there, making his debut “Original
Fresh” worked with Chaka Demus and released a lot of singles, but none of them became a hit.
His infamous sexual explicitness first appeared in the tune "Needle Eye Punany" in 1988, which
he would soon ride it to tremendous popularity in Jamaica.
However, his 1989 shift to Bobby Digital's new studio and label, Digital B, was more significant
Bobby Digital was a King Jammy engineer and producer. The they had been friends for some
time so there was an instant chemistry Ranks rose in fame after breathtaking stages
performances. Additionally, Shabba Ranks was the first dancehall artist to win a Grammy
Award, which further cemented his reputation as a pioneer and influential figure in the world
music genre brass instrument. Shabba Ranks won two consecutive Grammy Awards for Best
Reggae Album in 1992 and 1993. His contribution to popularizing the "slack" form of dancehall
music, which stresses explicit lyrics and sexually rawness ideas, had an enormous effect on the
genre. Ranks signed a major-label deal with Epic as a result of his rising success, and it was
instantly clear that he wanted to become a crossover artist. His Epic debut, As Raw as Ever, had
the well-known duet "House call" with the in-demand Maxi Priest of the time. As Raw as Ever
climbed all the way to the top of the R&B album charts when "Housecall"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwtAGWWC9y4 reached the Top Five on the R&B charts.
In 1992, "The Jam," another collaboration with rap veteran and reggae fan KRS-One, reached the
top of the hip-hop singles list. Ranks became the first dancehall act to ever claim a Grammy for
Best Reggae Album for As Raw as Ever. "Mr. Loverman" was re-released as a single in the
United States later in 1992.
Shabba Ranks in my opinion is the world most influential Jamaican artist. In this research paper
my focus is on shabba ranks background and come up in music as well as his influenced in
Jamaica, hip hop and dancehalls. shabba works is unique and known worldwide. Shabba real
name is Rexton Rawlston Fernando, he grew up in Trenchtown, the ghetto of Kingston Jamaica
but was born in Sturgeon community of St. Ann Jamaica in 1966. Kingstown the capital and the
largest city in Jamaica is where shabba rank gain exposure with local DJs and their variety of
musical styles like Ska, reggae, dancehall which has big influence on his unique style of music
and appearance. Bob Marley and Jimmy cliff was one of the few artists who influenced shabba
ranks music and style. Jimmy Cliff can be recognized as one of Shabba Ranks' primary
influences, and lots of his own songs consist of Cliff samples and musical compositions. Jimmy
Cliff's groundbreaking music in the dancehall and reggae genres is one way that he has
influenced Shabba Ranks. Jimmy Cliff's early ska and rocksteady tracks, which he released in the
1960s, had a big influence on the style of Jamaican music at the time. Jimmy Cliff continued on
with his unique ideas and pushed beyond the limits of the genre as reggae took off in the period
between the years 1960 and 1970. Bob Marley, one of the most important and recognizable
figures in the history of popular music is the Jamaican singer, songwriter, and musician
Work cited
“Shabba Ranks Biography, Songs, & Albums.” AllMusic,
www.allmusic.com/artist/shabba-ranks-mn0000129817/biography. Accessed 8 May 2023.
Houghton, Eddie “Stats.” “Cover Story: Shabba Ranks.” The FADER,
www.thefader.com/2009/04/01/fader-67-shabba-ranks-cover-story. Accessed 8 May 2023.
Cooper, C. (2004). Slackness Personified. In: Sound Clash. Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403982605_3
https://www.last.fm/music/Shabba+Ranks/+wiki
