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Jamaica Cutty Ranks is a Jamaican dancehall singer known for his influential contributions to the genre and his later ventures into hip hop and collaborations with contemporary artists.
Cutty's work with iconic labels like Penthouse helped him cross over.
Cutty's work with iconic labels like Fashion Records helped him cross over.
Cutty's work with iconic labels like Profile Records helped him cross over.
Released the album 'Full Blast' and other music on his own label, Philip Music.
Philip Thomas, known professionally as Cutty Ranks, was born on February 12, 1965, in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica. His musical journey began at an early age, performing reggae with local sound systems from the age of eleven. By fourteen, he was working with Gemini sound system, subsequently moving to Rebel Tone and Papa Roots. His early career also included stints with Stereo Mars, Arrows, and Metro Media. He further developed his craft with Killamanjaro, collaborating with artists including Early B, Super Cat, Puddy Roots, and Little Twitch, and later with Sturmars, alongside Josey Wales, Nicodemus, Super Cat, U Brown, and Yami Bolo. His first employment outside of music was as a butcher.
In the 1980s, Ranks joined the Arrows sound system. His debut single, “Gunman Lyrics,” was recorded in 1986 for Winston Riley’s Techniques label. He continued to record with Riley, producing tracks such as “Out of Hand” and “Fishman Lyrics.” After some time spent in Miami working with Super Cat and Nicodemus, he collaborated with Patrick Roberts’ Shocking Vibes label, releasing the single “The Bomber.” A significant career move in 1990 saw him join Donovan Germain’s Penthouse label, where he achieved a hit with “Pon Mi Nozzle.” His rise continued with London-based Fashion Records, releasing “The Stopper” and his debut album of the same name in 1991.
The same year, he released “Lethal Weapon” through Penthouse, featuring vocalists such as Marcia Griffiths, Dennis Brown, Wayne Wonder, and Beres Hammond. His subsequent albums, “From Mi Heart” and “Six Million Ways to Die,” were released on Priority Records in 1996. “Six Million Ways to Die” notably included a hip hop remix of his song “A Who Seh Me Dun.” In 2000, he released “Back with a Vengeance,” produced by King Jammy, which expanded his musical exploration into hip hop and dancehall. He has since released music on his own label, Philip Music, and featured on tracks by artists like 2 Chainz, El Chombo, and Run the Jewels, showcasing his enduring influence across various music genres.
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