Sluggy Ranks

Jamaican musician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Andrew Phillip Gregory (14 December 1966 – 29 July 2012), better known as Sluggy Ranks, was a Jamaican dancehall singer who was a major part of the New York dancehall scene.

Born
Andrew Phillip Gregory

(1966-12-14)14 December 1966
Kingston, Jamaica
Died29 July 2012(2012-07-29) (aged 45)
Kingston, Jamaica
GenresDancehall
Years activeMid 1980s–2012
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Sluggy Ranks
Born
Andrew Phillip Gregory

(1966-12-14)14 December 1966
Kingston, Jamaica
Died29 July 2012(2012-07-29) (aged 45)
Kingston, Jamaica
GenresDancehall
Years activeMid 1980s–2012
LabelProfile
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Biography

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]

Discography

Albums

  • Settle Sluggy (1988), Park Heights
  • Ghetto Youth Buss (1989), Grade One
  • Ghetto Youth Bust (1994), Profile
  • Just Call Sluggy (1987), Witty
  • My Time (1999), Barry U

Singles

  • "True Sound" (198?), Jah Life
  • "Draw Fi Mi Bible" (198?), Jah Life
  • "Rucumbine" (1987), Music Master - Sluggy & Twitch
  • "95% Black, 5% White" (1988), Music Master
  • "Don't Be Prejudiced" (1989), Park Heights
  • "Ketch Dem Fraid" (1990), Mr. Doo
  • "My Time" (1990), Shelly's
  • "Iron Curtain" (1990), Libra - with Rev. Badoo
  • "Tell Me Now" (1991), Shelly's
  • "No Money Na Run" (1991), Rockers Forever
  • "Ghetto Youth Bust" (1994), Profile
  • "Jah Is Guiding I" (1994), John John
  • "Sodom & Gomorrah" (199?), Part II/Gold Shop
  • "Titus, Share the Cake" (1995), Secret Rival - with Chuck Fender, Ninja Kid, Tuffest, Mikey Merican, and Terrible Cat
  • "Ghetto Youth" (1995), WEA - Booyaka Crew & Sluggy Ranks
  • "Weedman" (1995), Secret Rival - Sluggy Ranks & Tuffest
  • "The Coming of the Lord" (1997), Barry U
  • "Nothing in the World" (2003), Wild Apache
  • "Zion Gate" (2006), Total Satisfaction
  • "Don´t Want To Be A Shotta" (20??), Digital English
  • "Don't Want to be a Shotta part 2" (2010), Digital English
  • "Rough Wine" (2010), Witty
  • "Done With The Badness" (2011), Digital English
  • "Ghetto Youth" (2011), King Kustom
  • "Another One Bites The Dust" (2011), 14 Karat
  • "Too Chatty Chatty" (2011), 14 Karat
  • "Strictly Reggae Music" (2011), Roots Injection

References

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