R.I.P: Sluggy Ranks, 1968-2012

Words by Jesse Serwer—

From Kingston comes the sad news that iconic ’90s dancehall deejay Sluggy Ranks died in a car accident yesterday. Sluggy, for those that don’t know the name, was part of the initial wave of deejays who bussed from out of Brooklyn in the 1980s, voicing tunes for New York labels like Whitty, Super Power and Park Heights.

I won’t front like I know too many things about Sluggy Ranks but I can certainly vouch for of the impact of what was probably his best known tune in the States, “95% Black,” which got a lot of play on mixshows in New York City back in the early ’90s. When you’re a kid like I was, you don’t think about things like the prison-industrial complex really, so hearing a song like “95% Black,” with its lyrics about the racial imbalance between blacks and whites in the U.S. prison system, was definitely an eye-opener. Even if you can’t remember that far back, this is one of those culture tunes that still gets played when DJs run through ’90s sets. Revisit it below, and rest in peace, Sluggy Ranks.

Tags: Brooklyn Digital Digital Dancehall Jamaicans Park Heights Sluggy Ranks Super Power Records Whittys

Recent Posts

  • home-right-news
  • Interview
  • Jesse Serwer
  • Music
  • promote

The LargeUp Interview: Stonebwoy On How Dancehall Conquered Ghana 🇬🇭

Africa's dancehall ambassador on the cultural connections between Ghana and Jamaica.

10 months ago
  • home-left-features
  • Martei Korley
  • promote
  • Sports

Going The Distance with Jamaican Track Star Aisha Praught-Leer 🇯🇲

From Illinois to Kingston, Jamaica, comes a story of fierce determination.

11 months ago
  • home-right-news

Jamaican In New York: Rhea Prendergast Brings Yaad Vibes To The Big Apple

Rhea 'Rheezus' Prendergrast is a young woman from Jamaica, living in New York City, working…

1 year ago
  • events
  • News

EVENT: Island Fever with Omari Banks, Screechy Dan + Friends 🇦🇮 🇯🇲 🇬🇾 🇵🇦

LargeUp is bringing Caribbean sounds to Long Island's North Fork Saturday, July 29.

1 year ago
  • Featured Section
  • home-left-features
  • Jesse Serwer
  • Many Waters
  • promote
  • Travel

Many Waters: Exploring Guyana’s Amerindian Culture at Santa Mission 🇬🇾🇬🇾🇬🇾

Guyana's past meets its present at this Arawak outpost.

2 years ago
  • Audio

Machel Montano Celebrates Trinidad Carnival 2023 with International Soca Anthem “Welcome Home”

Machel, Agent Sasco, Voice and Travis World close out Carnival 2023 with an epic visual.

2 years ago

This website uses cookies.