As Raw As Ever

• Artist: Shabba Ranks
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1991
• Total Time: 44:35
• Genre: Rap

Review

When dubwise (often described as reggae's equivalent of rap) evolved into dancehall in the 1980s, Shabba Ranks became one of the style's leaders. Most dancehall has come out on small independent labels, but in the early '90s, Epic saw how popular it had become and signed Ranks. Hard-edged, abrasive and tough, As Raw as Ever thrives on rhythm for its own sake. Listening to such cuts as "Gun Pon Me" and "Fist-A-Ris," one can hear the impact that classic dubwise artists like I-Roy, U-Roy, King Tubby and Big Youth had on dancehall. But while those greats could be very melodic, Ranks usually has little or no use for melody or harmony. Ranks is joined by artists ranging from rapper KRS-1 to reggae/pop singer Maxi Priest on this generally enjoyable, although limited, disc. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Trailor Load a Girls	Cleveland "Clevie" Browne, Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson	Shabba Ranks	(3:58)
Where Does Slackness Come From	Rexton Gordon	Shabba Ranks	(3:48)
Woman Tangle	Clifton Dillon, Rexton Gordon	Shabba Ranks	(3:48)
Gun Pon Me	Shabba Ranks	Shabba Ranks	(3:53)
Gone Up		Shabba Ranks	(3:55)
Housecall	Maxi Priest, B. Thompson, Clifton Dillon, Rexton Gordon, Michael Bennett	Maxi Priest, Shabba Ranks	(3:39)
Flesh Axe	Cleveland "Clevie" Browne, Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson, Clifton Dillon	Shabba Ranks	(4:10)
A Mi Di Girls Dem Love	Shabba Ranks	Shabba Ranks	(3:29)
Fist-A-Ris	Shabba Ranks	Shabba Ranks	(3:33)
The Jam	KRS-One, Sydney Mills, Clifton Dillon	Shabba Ranks, KRS-One	(3:22)
Ambi Get Scarce	Shabba Ranks	Shabba Ranks	(3:52)
Park Yu Benz	Shabba Ranks	Shabba Ranks	(3:26)

Credits

Maxi Priest (Vocals), Maxi Priest (Performer), Shabba Ranks (Vocals), Shabba Ranks (Main Performer), Carlton Batts (Mastering), Cleveland "Clevie" Browne (Arranger), Cleveland "Clevie" Browne (Drums), Cleveland "Clevie" Browne (Producer), Danny Browne (Bass), Danny Browne (Drums), Danny Browne (Keyboards), Peter Chemist (Engineer), Peter Chemist (Mixing), Computer Paul (Bass), Computer Paul (Drums), Computer Paul (Keyboards), Steven "Cat" Coore (Guitar), Steven "Cat" Coore (Vocals), Danny Dennis (Bass), Danny Dennis (Keyboards), Eric Dillon (Production Assistant), Bobby Dixon (Producer), Bobby Dixon (Engineer), Bobby Dixon (Mixing), Sly Dunbar (Drums), Michael Fletcher (Keyboards), Chevelle Franklin (Vocals (Background)), Brian & Tony Gold (Vocals (Background)), Tony Gold (Vocals (Background)), Sylvester Gordon (Mixing), Solgie Hamilton (Mixing), Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson (Bass), Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson (Arranger), Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson (Keyboards), Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson (Producer), KRS-One (Vocals), KRS-One (Producer), Peter Mann (Vocals (Background)), Fatta Marshall (Engineer), Laurel Pinnock (Engineer), Laurel Pinnock (Assistant Engineer), Earl "Chinna" Smith (Guitar), Handel Tucker (Keyboards), Mikey Bennett (Arranger), Mikey Bennett (Keyboards), Mikey Bennett (Producer), Paul "Wrong Move" Crossdale (Keyboards), Clifton Dillon (Producer), Clifton Dillon (Executive Producer), Dorothy Smith (Vocals (Background)), Nicky Lindeman (Art Direction), Paul "Bankie" Giscombe (Production Assistant), Gerhard Jurkovic (Photography), George "Dusty" Miller (Drums)

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