Ranking Joe

Born Joseph Jackson in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1959, Ranking Joe—initially known as Little Joe—is a reggae deejay whose career spans the transition from roots reggae to the early dancehall era. He developed his "fast-talking" vocal style under the mentorship of Coxsone Dodd at Studio One before gaining wider recognition through his work with producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes and the Ray Symbolic Hi-Fi sound system. This technical delivery became a hallmark of his sound during the late 1970s and 80s. Joe’s long-standing connection with Easy Star Records began with their first release, Easy Star Volume One (1998), where he contributed the track "Delilah." His most prominent contribution to the label's catalog is his feature on the Pink Floyd tribute Dub Side of the Moon (2003), specifically on the track "Time" alongside Corey Harris. More recent work includes his appearance on Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad’s 2014 album Steady and the 2024 single Top Ranking with JonQuan, illustrating his continued involvement in the label's output over three decades.