Cutty Ranks - The Stopper (1991)

Not to be confused with fellow "rude boy" Shabba Ranks, Cutty Ranks is a popular dancehall artist who has fared well in both reggae and hip-hop circles. The Stopper is typical of Ranks' work and illustrates the fact that he likes his dancehall tough, hard and amelodic. There isn't a lot of variety on this CD, which underscores dancehall's limitations. The complaint that Ranks' music "all sounds alike" really isn't off base, but be that as it may, cuts like "Pon Pause," "Hand Grenade" and "The Stopper" are lively, fun and exhilarating. As redundant and one-dimensional as Ranks tends to be, one really doesn't need more than one or two of his CDs. And if you have a taste for dancehall, this decent but limited album is worth a listen.~ Review by Alex Henderson