Shabba Ranks has been confirmed for this year’s staging of Reggae Sumfest.
The veteran Dancehall superstar will be making his grand return to the Reggae Sumfest stage this July.
Shabba previously graced the festival’s stage in 1994 and once again in 2012, delivering a stellar performance.
“It still left the audience wanting more,” said Josef Bogdanovich, CEO of Downsound Entertainment, owners of Reggae Sumfest.
According to Bogdanovich, bringing Shabba back was a natural decision and one the fans really wanted.
“We were determined to bring Shabba back to the Sumfest stage and worked extremely hard to get him signed. We feel a special sense of achievement to have been able to provide the opportunity for our Jamaican and international reggae fans to enjoy, live, the stylings of one of the icons of the Jamaican music industry,” he said.
Bogdanovich went on to praise the deejay, calling him one of the greatest performers from the genre.
“The Emperor of Dancehall, in any era, is magnetic on the stage,” he declared. “He is a stellar act with exceptional pulling power.”
Shabba rose to fame the ’90s, with countless hits such as; Trailer Load, Wicked Inna Bed, Love Punanny Bad. Although he has plenty of new material, Bogdanovich emphasized that the deejay would be delivering his classics.
“Shabba will have to perform those songs from his catalog that pushed him to the top. He, however, pointed out that “he is also free to introduce any other later songs that he wants.”
“We have not yet discussed his plans and, in any event, these will not be disclosed as the surprise element.”
Despite his absence from the Dancehall scene, Shabba remains one of the most popular names in the genre. According to Entertainment minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, it is a good move he is still as relevant as ever.
“The world has not had closure on Shabba Ranks because no one has filled that vacuum,” Grange told The Star.
Other superstars already locked down for the festival include Grammy-winning sensation Koffee, as well as Dancehall Queen Spice. Sumfest will commence from July 12-18 in Montego Bay.
