Philip Thomas (born 12 February 1965), better known as Cutty Ranks, is a Jamaican

dancehall Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots reggae, roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2 ...

singer.

Biography

Thomas was born in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica in 1965. He began his career as a reggae artist at the age of eleven with local sound systems, going on to work with the

Gemini Gemini most often refers to: * Gemini (constellation), one of the constellations of the zodiac * Gemini (astrology), an astrological sign Gemini may also refer to: Science and technology Space * Gemini in Chinese astronomy, the Gemini constellat ...

sound system Sound system may refer to: Technology media * Sound reinforcement system, a system for amplifying audio for an audience * High fidelity, a sound system intended for accurate reproduction of music in the home * Public address system, an institution ...

, before moving on to work with

Tony Rebel Patrick George Anthony Barrett (born 15 January 1962), better known by his stage name Tony Rebel, is a Jamaican reggae deejay. Career Born in Manchester Parish, Jamaica, Barrett was initially a singer, appearing as Papa Tony or Tony Ranking i ...

's Rebel Tone and Papa Roots, and later working with Stereo Mars, Arrows and Metro Media. He joined

Killamanjaro Founded in the summer of 1969, Killamanjaro is a Jamaican sound system best known for their clashes and large amount of classic reggae dubplates. It is owned by Noel "Papa Jaro" Harper and named after Mount Kilimanjaro. The name was changed ...

where he worked alongside

Early B Earlando Arrington Neil (28 February 1957 – 11 September 1994) better known by his stage name Early B, was an early dancehall and reggae deejay whose lyrics had a cultural bent, noted mainly in his hits ''Visit of King Selassie'', ''Histor ...

Super Cat William Anthony Maragh (born 25 June 1963),Huey, Steve " Super Cat Biography, Allmusic, retrieved 18 July 2010 also known as Super Cat, is a Jamaican DJ and toaster who achieved widespread popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s danc ...

, Puddy Roots, and Little Twitch, and then Sturmars where he worked with Josey Wales,

Nicodemus Nicodemus (; ; ; ; ) is a New Testament figure venerated as a saint in a number of Christian traditions. He is depicted as a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin who is drawn to hear Jesus's teachings. Like Lazarus of Bethany, Lazarus, Nicode ...

U Brown Huford Brown (born 8 June 1956, Kingston, Jamaica), better known by the stage name U Brown, is a reggae deejay who released eleven albums between 1976 and 1984. Biography Brown grew up in Bond Street in Kingston, living two doors away from Du ...

and Yami Bolo. His first job on leaving school was as a butcher. During the eighties, Ranks moved on to the Arrows sound system and his 1986 debut single "Gunman Lyrics" was recorded for

Winston Riley Winston Riley (14 May 1943 – 19 January 2012) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter and record producer. The ''Jamaica Gleaner'' notes he was one of the most successful reggae producers.

's Techniques label. He also recorded such tracks as "Out of Hand" and "Fishman Lyrics" with Riley and after spending some time in Miami working with

and

, he worked with Patrick Roberts' Shocking Vibes label, releasing the single "The Bomber". In 1990, he joined Donovan Germain's Penthouse label, enjoying a hit with "Pon Mi Nozzle". Ranks came to the attention of London-based Fashion Records, and in 1991 he released "The Stopper" and a debut album of the same name for Fashion, following this up with the album ''Lethal Weapon'' in the same year for Penthouse, featuring singers such as

Marcia Griffiths Marcia Llyneth Griffiths (born 23 November 1949) is a Jamaican singer best known for the 1989 remix of her single " Electric Boogie", which serves as the music for the four-wall " Electric Slide" line dance. It is the best-selling single of ...

Dennis Brown Dennis Emmanuel Brown CD (1 February 1957 – 1 July 1999) was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of l ...

Wayne Wonder Von Wayne Charles (born 26 July 1972), better known by his stage name Wayne Wonder, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist. His most popular single is the 2003 hit " No Letting Go". Biography Early life Wonder was born in Buff Bay, Portla ...

and Beres Hammond. His follow-up albums ''From Mi Heart'' and ''Six Million Ways to Die'' were released on

Priority Records Priority Records is an American distribution company and record label known for artists including N.W.A, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Eazy-E, Master P, Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Silkk the Shocker, Jay-Z, Paris, Mack 10, 504 Boyz, Brotha Lynch Hung, ...

in 1996. ''Six Million Ways to Die'' included a

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

remix A remix, also sometimes called reorchestration or rework, is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, poem, or photograph ca ...

of Ranks' song "A Who Seh Me Dun" which was voiced earlier over the Bam Bam

riddim In Jamaican dancehall music, a riddim is the instrumental accompaniment to a song and is synonymous with the rhythm section. Jamaican music genres that use the term consist of the ''riddim'' plus the ''voicing'' (vocal part) sung by the deeja ...

in 1992. In 2000, he released the album ''Back with a Vengeance'' produced by King Jammy. This album saw Ranks venture into other musical styles, including

and

. He now releases music on his own Philip Music label. He has rejected the '

slackness Slackness may refer to: *Slackness (Jamaican music), a subgenre of dancehall music *Slackness, the lack of tension (physics) *Resource slack in business *Laziness *Vulgarity in West Indian culture and behavior Music *''Slackness'', album by Th ...

' of modern dancehall in favour of more 'cultural' concerns. In 2012, he released the album ''Full Blast'', featuring guest appearances from Beres Hammond, Luciano, and

Gwen Guthrie Gwendolyn Guthrie (July 9, 1950 – February 3, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter and pianist who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Peter Tosh, The Limit and Madonna, among others, and who wrote son ...

. In 2013, he featured on

2 Chainz Tauheed K. Epps (born September 12, 1977), known professionally as 2 Chainz (formerly Tity Boi), is an American rapper and actor. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, he gained recognition as one-half of the Southern hip-hop duo Playaz Ci ...

's "Slums of the Ghetto" and a remix of T.RONE's "Hello Love". In 2018, his vocals were featured on El Chombo's

reggaeton Reggaeton (, ) is a modern style of popular music, popular and electronic music that originated in Panamanian reggaetón, Panama during the late 1980s, and which rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s through a plethora of Puert ...

song "

Dame Tu Cosita "Dame Tu Cosita" (, ) is a song by Panamanian artist El Chombo, featuring Jamaican dancehall musician Cutty Ranks. It was originally recorded in 1997, but extended and released as a single in 2018. A remix with Pitbull and Karol G was released o ...

", which was originally released in 1997 in short form on the album ''Cuentos de la Cripta 2'', titled "Introducción B (El Cosita Mix)" which features Ranks' sampled vocals from the track "Kill Them Out". In 2020, he contributed vocals to the

Run the Jewels Run the Jewels, also known by the initials RTJ, is an American hip-hop Supergroup (music), superduo, composed of Brooklyn-based rapper and producer El-P and Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike. They released their critically acclaimed Run the Jewe ...

song "Holy Calamafuck" from their album '' Run the Jewels 4''.

Discography

Albums

*1991: ''The Stopper'' (

Fashion Fashion is a term used interchangeably to describe the creation of clothing, footwear, Fashion accessory, accessories, cosmetics, and jewellery of different cultural aesthetics and their mix and match into Clothing, outfits that depict distinct ...

) ( Profile/Arista/BMG S *1991: ''Lethal Weapon'' (Penthouse) *1991: ''Retreat'' ( VP) *1992: ''From Mi Heart'' ( Shanachie) *1996: ''Six Million Ways to Die'' ( Priority/

EMI EMI Group Limited (formerly EMI Group plc until 2007; originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At t ...

) *2001: ''Back with a Vengeance'' (Artists Only!) *2005: ''Hard for It'' (Wallboomers) *2012: ''Full Blast'' (Philip Music)

Compilations

*2008: ''Limb By Limb – Reggae Anthology'' (VP)

Collaborations/split albums

*1991: ''Another One for the Road'' (

Greensleeves "Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song. A broadside ballad by the name "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" was registered by Richard Jones at the London Stationers' Company in September 1580,Frank Kidson, ''English F ...

) – with

Cocoa Tea Colvin George Scott (3 September 1959 – 11 March 2025), better known as Cocoa Tea, was a Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter. Life and career Born in the fishing village of Rocky Point, Clarendon Parish, Jamaica on 3 September 1959, Cocoa ...

and Home T *1991: ''Die Hard (Volumes 1 & 2)'' (Penthouse) – with

*1991: ''20 Man Dead'' (Charm) – with Tony Rebel *1995: ''Rumble in the Jungle, Vol. 2'' (Fashion) – with Poison Chang *2020: " Shiny Collarbone" (

Dirty Hit Dirty Hit Limited is a British independent record label founded in February 2010 by Jamie Oborne, Chuck Waite, Brian Smith, and former England national football team, England footballer Ugo Ehiogu. Based in London since 2009, it has expanded op ...

) – with

The 1975 The 1975 are an English pop rock band formed in Wilmslow, Cheshire, in 2002. The band consists of Matty Healy (lead vocals, guitar, primary songwriter), Adam Hann (lead guitar), Ross MacDonald (bass), and George Daniel (drums, primary produ ...

*2020: " Holy Calamafuck" (Jewel Runners) – with

Singles

;1980s *1986: "Gun Man Lyrics" *1986: "Greedy Girl" *1986: "Christmas Time" *1987: "Red Eye Business" *1987: "Boom Shot" *1989: "Kill Them Out" *1989: "Live Up" ;1990s *1990: "Love Me Have to Get" (with Beres Hammond) *1990: "Russia and America" *1990: "Gang War" (with

) *1990: "Retreat" *1990: "Sound Bwoy Retreat" *1990: "The Bommer" *1990: "Stick It Up" *1990: "The Stopper" *1990: "Cool Down" *1990: "Big and Rough" *1990: "Come Better" *1990: "The Loving Boom" (with Barry Boom) *1990: "Money Talk" *1990: "Business Talk" *1991: "Wait on Love" (with

Leroy Smart Leroy Smart (born 1952) is a reggae singer-songwriter and record producer from Kingston, Jamaica. Biography Smart was born in 1952 and orphaned at the age of two. He was raised at Maxfield Park Children's Home and educated at Alpha Boys School ...

) *1991: "Original Ranks" *1991: "Lambada" (with

) *1991: "Fi Fe Fi Fo Fum" (with

Tiger The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is a large Felidae, cat and a member of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Asia. It has a powerful, muscular body with a large head and paws, a long tail and orange fur with black, mostly vertical stripes. It is ...

) *1991: "Dominate" *1991: "Original Loving" (with

) *1991: "The Going Is Rough" (with Home T and Cocoa Tea) *1991: "Money Money" *1991: "Really Together" (with

) *1991: "Dance Hall Rock" (with

Barrington Levy Barrington Ainsworth Levy (born 30 April 1964) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist from Clarendon, Jamaica. Career In 1977, Levy formed a band called the Mighty Multitude, with his cousin, Everton Dacres; the pair released "My Bla ...

) *1991: "Half Idiot" (with Marcia Griffiths) *1991: "One Man Something" (with Tiger) *1991: "Gimme Yu Lovin" (with George Banton) *1991: "Come with Me" (with

Frankie Paul Paul Blake (19 October 1965 – 18 May 2017), better known as Frankie Paul, was a Jamaican dancehall reggae artist. Born blind, he has been dubbed by some 'The Jamaican Stevie Wonder'. Biography Born in Jamaica in 1965, Blake was born blind bu ...

, Trevor Sparks & Yellow Bird) *1991: "Another One for the Road" (with Home T and Cocoa Tea) *1991: "Grudgeful" *1991: "Bring It Back" (with Brian & Tony Gold) *1991: "Move Off" *1991: "Love Is Not Simple" (with

Ken Boothe Kenneth George Boothe OD (born 22 March 1948) is a Jamaican vocalist known for his distinctive vibrato and timbre. Boothe achieved an international reputation as one of Jamaica's finest vocalists through a series of crossover hits that appeal ...

) *1991: "Love Mi Hafi Get" *1991: "Move Up" *1992: "Roses Are Red" *1992: "The System" *1992: "A Who Seh Me Dun" *1992: "Leave People Man" *1992: "Wealth" *1992: "Pon Pause" *1992: "Living Condition" *1992: "Truth & Right" *1992: "Disappear" *1992: "Legal Thief" (with Sanchez) *1992: "Clare" (with

Pliers Pliers are a hand tool used to hold objects firmly, possibly developed from tongs used to handle hot metal in Bronze Age Europe. They are also useful for bending and physically compressing a wide range of materials. Generally, pliers consi ...

) *1992: "Four Big Thief" *1993: "Soul Love" (with The Blessing) *1993: "Limb By Limb" *1993: "Everything Legit" *1993: "Home Training" *1993: "Rude Boy Rides Again" *1993: "As You See It" *1994: "Hustle Hustle" *1994: "String Dem Up" *1994: "Weh Dem a Watch We For" (with General Levy) *1994: "Armed and Dangerous" *1994: "One Lick Off the Ball" *1995: "You Must'n Greedy" (with Barrington Levy) *1995: "Bad Police" *1995: "The Return" *1995: "Looking My Love" (with Barrington Levy) *1996: "Punk Fi Go Hide" *1996: "Rip and Run Off" (with Cocoa Tea) *1996: "My Woman" (with Barrington Levy) *1996: "Rude Boy Game" *1996: "Detrimental" *1996: "Blood on the Corner" *1996: "D.J. Line Up" *1996: "Bush Tonic" *1997: "Get Warm" (with Frankie Paul) *1997: "Lyrical War" *1997: "Take You Out" (with Cocoa Tea) *1998: "Get Away Driver" *1998: "Big Machine" *1998: "Set You Free" (with Singing Melody) *1998: "Me Nah Backdown" *1998: "Personal Experience" *1998: "Healing of the Nation" *1998: "Peace Treaty" *1998: "Wuk Dem Hard" *1998: "Guiltyness" (with Edi Fitzroy) *1998: "No More Will I Roam" (with Dennis Brown) *1999: "Come Down" *1999: "Bun Dem" *1999: "Gal Banger" ;2000s *2007: "Lucky Day" ;2010s *2011: "Try Again" *2013: "Rebel for Life" (with Naâman) *2016: "Man a Lion" *2018: "My Town" *2018: "

" (with El Chombo) *2018: "Dame Tu Cosita" (Remix) (with Pitbull, El Chombo and

Karol G Carolina Giraldo Navarro (born February 14, 1991), known professionally as Karol G, is a Colombian singer. Considered as one of the most influential reggaeton and Urban contemporary music, urban pop artists, she has received awards including a ...

) *2023: "Genre" (with FreeTheGod)

References

External links

Discography at Discogs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranks, Cutty 1965 births Jamaican dancehall musicians Living people Singers from Kingston, Jamaica Priority Records artists Profile Records artists VP Records artists Shanachie Records artists