Born in the Rae Town district of East Kingston, Ranks relocated to Brooklyn in 1981.[1] In 1984 he began recording for the Brooklyn-based Jah Life label and worked with local sound systems such as Mini Mart Hi Power, King Custom Sound and African Love.[1] He became known for his 'cultural' lyrics, which contrasted with the prevailing 'slack' lyrics of dancehall.[2][3] In 1988 he worked with producer Whitfield "Witty" Henry on the single "95% Black, 5% White", a commentary on the state of the US prison system.[1] He went on to record several albums in the 1980s and 1990s, including the Prince Jammy-produced Ghetto Youth Bust in 1994, released on Profile Records.[1][2][4] His single "Sodom & Gomorrah", recorded on the "Tempo" rhythm, dealt with the confrontation between Super Cat and Nitty Gritty at Count Shelly's record shop that led to Nitty Gritty's death.[5] In 1997 he contributed to the Easy Star album Easy Star Volume I, and in 2003 to the Easy Star All Stars' Dub Side of the Moon.[1]
At the age of 44, he died on July 29, 2012, as a result of injuries he sustained in a car accident in Kingston's Stony Hill neighborhood.[1][6]