Shabba Ranks Net Worth

Rexton Rawiston Fernando, popularly known as Shabba Ranks, is a Jamaican artist born on 17 January 1966. He is best known for his prowess in dance-hall music during the 1980s and 1990s. He was also a talented DJ, having gained worldwide acceptance for his lyrical content and expression in reggae music. He was the first Jamaican reggae musician to win the Grammy Award.

Are you wondering what the net worth of Shabba Ranks is, as of early-2016? The Jamaican artist is estimated to have a net worth of over $1 million, which he had largely earned from his successful music and DJ careers, especially in the 1980s when he gained international fame. He sold millions of copies of his greatest hits such as ‘Ting A Ling,’ ‘Wicked inna Bed’ and ‘Mr Loverman.’ In 1991, Ranks was offered a very lucrative record deal by Epic, a producing company, where he subsequently produced five successful albums.

Shabba Ranks Net Worth $1 Million

Son to Constance Christie and Ivan Gordon, Shabba Ranks was born in Sturgetwon, Jamaica, but eight years later his family moved to Trenchtown, a Kingston ghetto where the famous Bob Marley was born and raised. By the age of 12, Ranks was fascinated by the acts of DJs who played music in local clubs. Some of his early inspirations included Josey Wales, Yellowman, Brigadier Jetty and General Echo. He decided to try his hand in the entertainment industry, and spent most of the early 1980s working for a sound system known as Roots Melody. He worked with Navigator, a record selector, calling himself Co-Pilot. He released his first single, ‘Heat Under Sufferer’s Feet,’ under that name in 1985, before finally changing it to Shabba Ranks. This was perhaps his breakthrough as Josey Wales, his idol, eventually noticed his raw talent and took him under his wing. His net worth had begun growing.

Wales went ahead and introduced the young toaster to producers at a studio known as King Jammy. This gave Ranks a new platform to further his music career, and he soon released what became the hit single dubbed ‘Original Fresh.’ He also recorded a number of other hit singles, collaborating with top artists such as Chaka Demus. Even though Ranks worked hard in the studio and released popular singles, it seemed that none of them gave him the breakthrough he wanted. His real popularity came in 1988 when he released a single known as ‘Needle Eye Punany,’ which saw him achieve world-wide recognition. Most importantly, though, was when he moved to Bobby Digital’s new studio, King Jammy in 1989. Here he released several record-breaking hits such as ‘Penny Penny,’ ‘Mama Man,’ ‘Live Blanket,’ ‘Roots and Culture’ and ‘Wicked Inna Bed.’ His net worth continued to grow.

Shabba Ranks has had tremendous success when it comes to his music career. He was nominated for the Grammy Awards in the category of Best Reggae Album in 1991-1992, which he won, beating other top reggae artists. Additionally, he also has under his belt six international Reggae Awards and two other Caribbean Music Awards, which he won in 1992.

In 1992, as Ranks appeared on “The Word”, a Channel Four show, he clearly advocated for the death of all homosexuals. This controversy saw many people, including Mark Lamarr, the presenter, condemn his comments.

In his personal life, Ranks married Mitchell Gordon in 1992, and lives with her today in New York City; the couple has two children. His mother, Constance Christie, lives in a house Ranks bought her in 1993 in Kingston, Jamaica.