Sluggy Ranks | |
---|---|
Birth name | Andrew Phillip Gregory |
Born | Kingston, Jamaica | 14 December 1966
Died | 29 July 2012 Kingston, Jamaica | (aged 45)
Genres | Dancehall |
Years active | Mid 1980s–2012 |
Labels | Profile |
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 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 passed away on July 29, 2012, as a result of injuries he sustained in a car accident in Kingston's Stony Hill neighborhood. [1] [6]
Sluggy Ranks | |
---|---|
Birth name | Andrew Phillip Gregory |
Born | Kingston, Jamaica | 14 December 1966
Died | 29 July 2012 Kingston, Jamaica | (aged 45)
Genres | Dancehall |
Years active | Mid 1980s–2012 |
Labels | Profile |
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 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 passed away on July 29, 2012, as a result of injuries he sustained in a car accident in Kingston's Stony Hill neighborhood. [1] [6]