Shabba Ranks
Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon, born in Saint Ann, Jamaica, rose through Kingston's dancehall sound systems in the mid-1980s as a protégé of Josey Wales before becoming the genre's biggest international star. His 1990 track 'Dem Bow,' built on a Bobby 'Digital' Dixon riddim, gave reggaetón its rhythmic backbone, and he became the first dancehall artist to win a Grammy.
Shabba Ranks was a protégé of Josey Wales, closely studying his cadence and dancehall stage presence early in his career.
listen forJosey Wales's rugged, rhythmically tight delivery on 'Leggo Mi Hand' is the clearest direct antecedent to Shabba Ranks's own commanding chat style on 'Dem Bow.'
Shabba Ranks drew inspiration from the toasting of Yellowman, whose charismatic, crowd-directed delivery was central to dancehall's early-1980s golden age.
listen forYellowman's playful, hyper-rhythmic chat on 'Zungguzungguguzungguzeng' set a template of showmanship you can still hear in Shabba Ranks's own catchy, singsong hook on 'Ting-A-Ling.'
Shabba Ranks also drew on General Echo, who helped pioneer the raw, explicit 'slackness' style of dancehall chatting that Shabba Ranks would later bring to an international audience.
listen forGeneral Echo's brash delivery on 'Arleen' anticipates the confident, sexually charged persona Shabba Ranks projects on 'Wicked Inna Bed.'