Ranking Joe Ai

Tabou1 has always had the privilege of working with legendary DJs, including pioneers like the godfather U-Roy, U-Brown, and Big Youth. These trailblazers revolutionized Jamaican music, shaping an art form that evolved into Rap and Hip Hop in the US, Dancehall in Jamaica, and Afrobeats in Africa. Thanks to these visionaries, deejaying in its many forms has conquered the world. At Tabou1, we proudly pay tribute to their groundbreaking contributions.

Ranking Joe, born Joseph Jackson, stands tall among these influential artists who chose to "chat" rhymes over instrumentals (known as “riddims” in Jamaica) rather than sing. Born in 1959, he began his career in the 1970s at just 15 years old, taking on the role of resident DJ for the renowned El Paso Hi-Fi sound system, founded by the great Dennis Alcapone. His distinctive fast-talking style and sharp lyrics quickly earned him international acclaim. By the mid-1980s, he had ignited a fast-talking craze in the UK, cementing his legacy as a pioneer.

Fast forward to 2023, Tabou1 was elated and honored when Ranking Joe agreed to record new tracks over riddims crafted by the legendary duo Sly & Robbie. The result of this collaboration is a stellar collection of 10 tracks, masterfully mixed by Colin "Bulby" York.