One on one with the 'Grammy Kid'

'Shabba Ranks'

REXTON Ralston Fernado Gordon, a.k.a. 'Shabba Ranks', doesn't say 'a me man, stinking dutty Shabba Ranks' anymore. But, he still glorifies his past. Despite what anyone wishes to say, the deejay, who won two Grammy awards, still loves Jamaica and considers it his home.

Q: Where do you live?

S.R: Jamaica. Jamaica is my home. I'm not living abroad, you can tell all of Jamaica... I'm travelling on a working visa. When I am not in the studio, I am in Germany or in Africa doing shows. But my children live abroad.

Q: And what has led you to Jamaica now. Is it only to do this Sashi show?

S.R: No, I love my people, so I am also here to see my people. Kingston 11(which includes Seaview Gardens) loves me. I will never forget my people.

Q: And how much money did you charge for the Sashi Show, about a million dollars?

S. R.: Money. Just say a lot of money.

Q: Is it more than the million dollars you had charged to perform on Sumfest some years ago?

S.R: I won't tell you how much. If mi charge Sumfest one million dollars got the million. A lot of people still feel that was too much money, but yet when they (promoters) get artistes from abroad they willing to pay good money.

Q: Do a lot of Jamaicans still talk about you?

S.R: They have to, 'cause is a lot of good music I do and is a lot of sweat and tears I bust for the music...If I were a fool people would not love me the way they do.

Q: If you are so good why promoters not booking you for shows in Jamaica?

S.R: Cause they (promoters) want to give Shabba Ranks monkey money and chicken change. If I am going on-stage promoter have to pay me.

Q: How much do you work for abroad?

S.R: If Shabba is going to perform at Madison Square Gardens is like US $50,000- $100, 000. If it is a little club I will work for between US $17,000 and $25,000.

Q: And all that money you earn is spent wisely?

S.R: Of course. Is two youth I have to give a good education.

Q: You didn't get a good education?

S.R: My mama sent me to good school. I went to Trench Town Primary, then to Seaward All-Age School and Dunoon High School...I didn't complete Dunoon. I wanted to be a mechanical engineer...I was a trouble maker and the trouble got me out of school.

Q: But weren't you a hustler out of school?

S.R: No my mama work hard so I didn't have to walk and sell. Mama was a conductress on bus and when she had time she would even drive the bus.

Q: After you were kicked out of school you moved into music?

S.R: Music was always around me. I had all the kings dem around, like King Tubbys and King Jammy...Remember I was living a Compond(Waterhouse) before a went to Seaview Gardens...I wrote my first music under sufferation. It was a song called Sufferers Feet.

Q: But you didn't continue with these cultural lyrics for too long. You went into slackness.

S.R: Cause people never want to hear songs like Sufferation so Shabba had to give the people what they want. I decided to do songs like Love P... Bad. I will always do songs like that and it is still playing in the dancehall. While (I was) doing songs like that other artistes were singing songs about women not looking good. Shabba Ranks is not slack to sing about any P..... It is reality and ninety per cent of my audience is women.

Q: And you just worked yourself up to winning the Grammy?

S.R: I didn't work to win the Grammy. I work hard 'cause mama used to tell me that whatever I do I should do it to the best of my ability.

Q: Then just when people thought you should have remained in Jamaica, the robbery in Seaview seemed to have scared you away?

SR: I wasn't scare of anything. ...But there are many obstacles that try fighting against Shabba.

Q: Like you being caught with a spliff?

SR: Things like that...But if I was not smoking the herb I would be giving a lot of trouble... I won't encourage a youth to get up and smoke herb like that. I would say smoke herb after you have create a future for yourself.

Q: What have you achieved since leaving Jamaica?

S.R: A lot of things. I have done dozens of recordings in Jamaica which only a few radio stations here playing now and then. I have my own production company called 'Ranks'. This is worldwide and I am shopping for a production deal.

Q: Are you comfortable with the dancehall music in Jamaica in light of the recent incident at Sumfest?

S.R: All of that not good for the music business...You know I can't answer anything about the people involve...

Q: Would you clash with a deejay?

SR: You mean with a woman cause Shabba Ranks nuh clash wid man.

Q: Are you concerned about the lives of say Ninjaman and Zebra?

SR: I nuh love wat a gwaan with Zebra or Ninjaman. With all Zebra gone a prison. Shabba Ranks nuh wish nobody bad.

Q: So, we will be hearing more about Shabba Ranks in the future?

S.R: The media must talk about the good things Shabba Ranks doing. Ever since mi win the Grammy dancehall music has been growing overseas. Now people abroad recognise artistes like Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Baby Cham.

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