NEW YORK (Irie Jamboree festival announcement) - The dancehall King is back! After a long hiatus from the scene, Jamaica's most celebrated dancehall artist, Rexton Rawlston Gordon, popularly know to fans as Shabba Ranks is set to perform at Irie Jamboree 2k4. The event takes place at Roy Wilkins Park in Queen, New York on Sunday, August 22, 2004. Shabba will join Luciano, Barrington Levy, Freddie McGregor, Bounty Killer, TOK, Cobra,
Tanya Stephens, Richie Spice, Richie Stephens, Chuck Fenda, KC Jockey, Frankie Paul, Half Pint, Princess, Stephen Souza and a host of other stars at the event.
"I am delighted that we have Shabba confirmed for Irie Jamboree. It took months of planning, negotiating and hundreds of phone calls to pull this off" said an elated Steven Williams, one of the principals of Irie Jamboree. "Shabba signing gives us momentum and a huge lift to make this the biggest reggae event ever staged in the New York, tri state area."
Another Jamboree principal Bobby Clarke, who along with Williams, DJ Roy, Neville from HC&F Recording studio and Louis Grant were instrumental in getting Shabba on board said, "Shabba is a music icon of Jamaica. He is a huge international reggae star and is adorned by fans from Trench Town to Timbuktu."
Last night at a press event at the WRTN studio in New York - which was simulcast on Irie Jam radio, NY and Power 96, Florida - Shabba personally made the announcement that he was confirmed for Jamboree. The phones lit up soon after as hundreds of listens jammed the lines tried to get an opportunity to speak with the dj. Shabba answered questions about his absence from the New York scene. He later acknowledged how proud he was of the new crop of djs who have taken up the mantle in his absence.
"Is over 20 years since me first pick up the mike. Them time dj never get a whole heap a respect. Now things different, so if me died tomorrow me just proud say I had an impact on the dancehall business and me help make it easier for Shaggy, Sean Paul, Beenieman are Vybez Kartel fe gwarn eat a food" he said.
Shabba, regarding by many as the contemporary king of dancehall reggae is easily one of the most successful and most influential artists in the reggae genre. Throughout the 80's and 90's, he sold millions of albums and was one of the first hardcore dancehall acts to have crossed over, paving the way for Sean Paul, Beenieman, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, Shaggy, Wayne Wonder and others.
Ranks recorded his first song, "Heat Under Sufferers Feet', in the mis 80's. Josey Wales took him to King Jammy in 1986 and from then it was no looking back. He recorded "Original Fresh" the monster hit "Needle Eye Punany", for Wittys in 1988 before forming a long standing friendship with producer Bobby Digital. The union producd a slew of hit singles including "Mama Man", "Peanie Peanie" and "Wicked In Bed." "Stop Spreading Rumours," a collaboration with Cocoa Tea and vocal group, Home T4, "Twice My Age" (with Krystal) and "Mr Loverman" (with Deborahe Glasgow) were successful collobrations that stormed the charts at home and abroad.
Epic Records signed him to a major label contract in late 1990 and released two successful albums "As Raw As Ever" and "Xtra Naked." Soon Ranks was a household name in the US market with remixed versions of "Mr Loverman," "Slow And Sexy" and "Housecall", a duet with Maxi Priest. He subsequently won two consecutive Grammy Awards for the albums.
After a more than 10-year absence, Shabba is back and ready to reclaim his place as the dancehall king of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
