At the age of 14, he began his career as a reggae artist on sound systems such as Gemini, Rebel Tone, and Papa Roots. Early on in his dee jaying career he was influenced by Josey Wales. He joined Killamanjaro where he worked alongside Early B, Super Cat, Puddy Roots, and Little Twitch. His prominence on sound systems evolved in the mid-to-late 1980s on SturMars and Metromedia, alongside famed selectors Danny Dread and Skyjuice.
During the 80s, Cutty Ranks' debut single "Gunman Lyrics" was recorded for Winston Riley's Techniques label. He also recorded such tracks as "Out Of Hand" and "Fishman Lyrics" with Riley and in 1990 he joined Donovan Germain's Penthouse label.
In 1991, he released his first album entitled The Stopper, following this up with album Lethal Weapon in the same year, featuring singers such as Marcia Griffiths, Dennis Brown, Wayne Wonder, and Beres Hammond. His follow up album releases were From Mi Heart, and Six Million Ways to Die which was put out on Priority Records in 1996. Six Million Ways to Die included a hip hop remix of Ranks' song "A Who Seh Me Dun" which was voiced earlier over the Bam Bam riddim in 1992. In 2000, he released the album Back With A Vengeance produced by King Jammy. This album saw Ranks venture into other musical styles, including hip hop and dancehall.
Cutty Ranks has been influential outside the world of dancehall, particularly in the field of drum 'n' bass. His vocals have been frequently sampled and his songs remixed by artists such as Goldie and DJ Skratch Bastid with Scratch of The Roots.
Discography
* The Stopper (1991)
* Lethal Weapon (1991)
* Retreat (1991)
* From Mi Heart (1992)
* Six Million Ways To Die (1996)
* Back With A Vengeance (2001)
* Hard For It (2005)
The Stopper
Cutty Ranks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
mistakes are my own,corrections are appreciated, & i don have time to put the
whole song in, so look for more LATER.
Dibby dibby d j, dibby dibby d j
no millionette, no millionette
know me a death, know me a death
nuff a dem a worry, nuff a dem a worry
me got de stop stop stop, stop stop stopper
to evry d j , de mus be talk to me propper
me come a dancehall, ago kill a wid de lingua
galong cutty ran chi-o(?) full of a stamina *
anyway me color,de roots an culture
anywhere me go
one man me praise - a de almighty Jah Jah
Jah Jah give me strenght an him give me de powah
dats why cutty rank-him full o de stamina
come a dancehall ya go kill a wid de lingua
follow me now massive and crew
now from you hear Cutty Ranking a boom
now from your hear cutty rank n a boom-boom boom-boom
fire here cutty rank n a boom, kill a fire here
cutty rank n a boom - a me seh
me raggamuffin a me international
to kill a d j me no partial
right or no Jah man me got de cre-den-tial
a when me come a dancehall, seh me well official.*
me got de stop stop...*....stamina
Lon don, paris even col ee forn ia
down a japan, or me gone to africa
go to new zealand, or even in a canada
yes a cutty rank n yago kill a wid de culture
ram up evry crevice an go roll evry corner
galong cutty rank n ya wat like a peppa (?)
pay down pon it, it a come from shabba
one worl' a gun, it a come from Ninja
Admiral Bailey im a obeah worker
no obeah cyaan catch me, come in
full o de stamina
yes a cutty rank, Jah-Jah know me a da danger
anyway me color de roots an culture
ram up evry crevice an go roll evry corner
seh ya find de riddem up ahead, me a strider
its a cutty rank upon de microphone centa
pal-o-mi-no mossy bon koo
me got de stoppa
To evry d j de mus be talk to me proper
me come a dancehall ago kill dem wid de lingua
yes a cutty rank upon de microphone centa
anywhere me go, de roots an culture
ram up evry crevice an go rule evry corner*
In a africa or a way over china, down a japan, or even carlifonia
in a mer ee ca, or even in a canada
yes a cutty rank, jah-jah know you a de danger
follow me now massive an crew
from you hear cutty rankin a boom,
now from you hear cutty rankin a boom boom boom boom
from you hear rag a muffin now a boom ,
kill a from you hear rag a muffin now a booom-a
ah know,
me rag a muffin, a me international
to crush a d j me no partial
right or no jah mon me got de credential
when me come a dancehall, seh me well official
me got de stop-stop, stop stop stop stopper
to evry d j deh mus be talk to me proper
seh ago cutty rank ago kill a wid de lingua
c'mon ragamuffin chi-o full o a stamina
when me come a dance yago kill a wid de culture
ram up evry crevice an go rule evry corner
london paris even down a china,
in a cuba, or a even over africa
yes a cutty rank jah-jah know me a de danger
follow me now massive an crew,
me got de stopper
to evry d j deh mus be talk to me proper
repeat and fade...
In Cutty Ranks’s song The Stopper, he declares himself the ultimate DJ stopper, someone who can draw attention and command respect from all the DJs in the dancehall. He is not a mere millionette, but a true raggamuffin with power, stamina, and credentials. He worships the almighty Jah Jah, who gives him strength and energy to deliver fiery performances that kill the lingua (with his words) and the culture (with his music). He is an international star, praised by different communities and cultures all over the world, from London to Paris, from Japan to Canada, from Africa to California. He calls on his massive and crew to follow him and celebrate his music, which is full of passion and rhythm.
The lyrics of The Stopper are full of Jamaican patois, which is a mixture of different languages, such as English, West African, and Spanish. It is a subversive and creative way of expressing cultural identity, resistance, and solidarity. By using patois, Cutty Ranks signals that he is part of a specific community that shares a common history, culture, and vision. He is proud of his roots and heritage, but also open to the world and its diversity. Cutty Ranks is not only a DJ, but also a cultural ambassador, who represents Jamaica and its music to the world.
Cutty Ranks’s The Stopper is a classic dancehall/reggae song that has influenced many other artists and genres, including hip hop, electronic, and dubstep. It was released in 1991 on the album, Lethal Weapon, and was produced by Philip "Fatis" Burrell. The song samples the bassline of the classic reggae song, Stalag 17, by Ansel Collins. The song has also been covered by other artists, such as Sublime and Kanye West. The Stopper is considered one of the foundational songs of dancehall, a genre that emerged in the 1980s in Jamaica and spread to the world, especially to the UK, where it became very popular. The Stopper is also a manifesto of Jamaican dancehall culture, which values creativity, competition, and community.
Line by Line Meaning
Dibby dibby d j, dibby dibby d j
The sound of a DJ scratching records in a repetitive manner
no millionette, no millionette
Not concerned with material possessions like expensive cars and jewelry
know me a death, know me a death
Being fearless in the face of danger
nuff a dem a worry, nuff a dem a worry
Others are concerned about Cutty Ranks's actions and unpredictability
some a dem a fret, some a dem a fret
Some are anxious and afraid of Cutty Ranks's behavior
me got de stop stop stop, stop stop stopper
Cutty Ranks has the power and ability to stop anyone or anything in his path
to evry d j , de mus be talk to me propper
DJ's must show Cutty Ranks respect and give him the proper attention he deserves
me come a dancehall, ago kill a wid de lingua
Cutty Ranks dominates the dancehall with his lyrical prowess
galong cutty ran chi-o(?) full of a stamina *
Cutty Ranks marches on with an unstoppable energy
anyway me color,de roots an culture
anywhere me go
one man me praise - a de almighty Jah Jah
Cutty Ranks is proud of his heritage and worships only one God
Jah Jah give me strenght an him give me de powah
Cutty Ranks relies on the divine power of Jah to carry him through life
dats why cutty rank-him full o de stamina
Cutty Ranks is driven by his faith and belief in a higher power, which gives him great strength and stamina
come a dancehall ya go kill a wid de lingua
Cutty Ranks dominates the dancehall with his powerful lyrics
follow me now massive and crew
Cutty Ranks leads the way with his loyal supporters
now from you hear Cutty Ranking a boom
Cutty Ranks's voice is loud and dominant in the dancehall
now from your hear cutty rank n a boom-boom boom-boom
Cutty Ranks's energetic and powerful presence is felt throughout the dancehall
fire here cutty rank n a boom, kill a fire here
Cutty Ranks's energy and passion is contagious and spreads like wildfire
a me seh
me raggamuffin a me international
to kill a d j me no partial
Cutty Ranks is a force to be reckoned with wherever he goes around the world and is no respecter of persons, even DJs
right or no Jah man me got de cre-den-tial
Whether accepted by society or not, Cutty Ranks has the skills and experience to back up his reputation
a when me come a dancehall, seh me well official.*
Cutty Ranks is a respected and official presence in the dancehall
Lon don, paris even col ee forn ia
down a japan, or me gone to africa
go to new zealand, or even in a canada
yes a cutty rank n yago kill a wid de culture
Cutty Ranks is a global phenomenon and his influence can be felt all around the world
ram up evry crevice an go roll evry corner
galong cutty rank n ya wat like a peppa (?)
pay down pon it, it a come from shabba
one worl' a gun, it a come from Ninja
Cutty Ranks dominates every aspect of the dancehall scene and is inspired by fellow artists like Shabba Ranks and Ninja Man
Admiral Bailey im a obeah worker
no obeah cyaan catch me, come in
full o de stamina
yes a cutty rank, Jah-Jah know me a da danger
Cutty Ranks is fearless and impossible to be harmed by voodoo or black magic, and his enemies know it
seh ya find de riddem up ahead, me a strider
its a cutty rank upon de microphone centa
pal-o-mi-no mossy bon koo
me got de stoppa
Cutty Ranks follows his own path and stays true to his unique style, and his presence on the microphone is unlike any other
repeat and fade...
The song fades out, but Cutty Ranks's influence in the dancehall scene lives on
Contributed by Brayden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@EduBanton645
Dibby dibby DJ, dibby dibby DJ
You know me a death, know me a death
Nuff a dem a worry, nuff a dem a worry
Some a dem a fret, some a dem a fret
Me got de stop stop stop, stop stop stopper
To every DJ, dem haffi talk to me proper
Mi come a dancehall, mi a go kill you with di lingua
Galang Cutty Ranks 'cause you full up of a stamina
Anyweh me go, Lord, a roots and culture
One man me praise, a di Almighty, Jah Jah
Jah Jah give me strength and him give me di power
That's why Cutty Ranking...full up of stamina
Come a dancehall, mi a go kill you with di lingua
Follow me now massive and crew
Now from you hear Cutty Ranking, a boom
Now from your hear Cutty Ranking, a boom-boom boom-boom
From you here Cutty Ranking a boom
Tell you, from you here Cutty Ranking a boom, Cutty Rank n a
And me say
Mi Raggamuffin a mi international
To kill a DJ, me don' partial
Right ya now, Jah man, mi got de cre-den-tial
And when mi come a dancehall, say me well official
Me got di stopper, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stopper
To every DJ, dem haffi talk to me proper
Say, galang Cutty Ranking gwan go kill them with the lingua
Tell you Cutty Ranking him full up of a stamina
London, Paris, even California
Down a Japan, or me gone down a Africa
Down a New Zealand, or even inna Canada
Yes a Cutty Ranks, mi a go kill you with di culture
Ram up every crevice, mi a go rule every corner
Galang Cutty Ranks, Lord, you hot like a pepper
"Pay down pon it", it a come from Shabba
"One worl' a gun", it a come from the Ninja
Admiral Bailey, him a obeah worker
No obeah cyan catch me, 'cause me full up of stamina
Listen, Cutty Ranks, Jah-Jah know me a di danger
Anyweh mi go, Lord, a roots and culture
Ram up every crevice, mi a go rule every corner
Settle pon di rhythm, like a any horse rider
Listen Cutty Ranks deh pon di microphone center
Follow me now massive and crew
Me got di stopper, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stopper
To every DJ, dem haffi talk to me proper
Mi come a dancehall, mi a go kill you with di lingua
Yes a Cutty Ranks deh pon di microphone center
Anyweh mi go, Lord, a roots and culture
Ram up every crevice, mi a go rule every corner
Inna Africa, or a way over China
Down a Japan, or a even Carlifonia
In America, or a even inna Canada
Yes a Cutty Ranks, Jah Jah know you a di danger
Follow me now massive and crew
From you hear Ragamuffin, know a boom
From you hear Ragamuffin, know a boom-boom boom-boom
From you hear Ragamuffin, know a boom
Tell you, from you here Ragamuffin, know a boom
I Know
Mi Raggamuffin a mi international
To brush a DJ, me don' partial
Right ya now, Jah man, mi got de cre-den-tial
And when mi come a dancehall, say me well official
Me got di stopper, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stopper
To every DJ, dem haffi talk to me proper
Say, galang Cutty Ranks, a go kill them with the lingua
Galang Ragamuffin 'cause you full up of stamina
When me come a dance me a go kill you with the culture
Ram up every crevice, mi a go rule every corner
London, Paris, gone to California
Even down a Japan, or me gone down a China
Inna Cuba, or a even inna Africa
Listen, Cutty Ranks, Jah-Jah know me a di danger
Follow me now massive and crew
Me got di stopper
To every DJ, dem haffi talk to me proper
And listen Cutty Ranks, because me a go kill you with the lingua
Galang Cutty Rankin 'cause you full up of stamina
Yes, Cutty Ranks, Jah-Jah know me a di danger
Anyweh me go, Lord, a roots and culture
Ram up every crevice, rule every corner
Follow me now massive and crew
Me got di stopper, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stopper
To every DJ, dem haffi talk to me proper
And listen Ragamuffin pon di microphone center
Anyweh mi go, Lord, a roots and culture
Galang Ragamuffin 'cause you full up of stamina
Listen Cutty Ranks, me a go kill you with the lingua....
@laabitres
Cutty Ranks is one of the GOATs of Dancehall
@eddyhenley4123
Facts
@berniceriojas5343
I like your. Music
@ason9741
Facts
@da1inflipsflops475
💯
@brentjames2425
Best
@AndersonCriativo
After a decade searching for this music I finally found it here. Thank you so much! Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷
@stevenclever
What year did you first hear this in Brazil?!!
@AndersonCriativo
@@stevenclever 1990
@JackSloan
J E T F U E L
RIP TO THE GOAT