Traditionally, there's always been some criticism of
Cutty Ranks as a one-dimensional artist. He's got a gruff voice, an almost unhealthy obsession with rapping about guns, and a dependence on strong, loping beats. However, there's a reason
Ranks has been at the top of the dancehall scene for so long -- despite a fairly narrow range, he's spectacular within his element.
Limb by Limb collects material from throughout his career, albeit in a non-chronological manner.
Ranks' very early work, from powerful freestyling to the 1986 release
"Gunman Lyrics," both begins and ends the collection. The movement to mainstream dancehall recognition is represented, with a number of tracks hailing from
The Stopper and
Lethal Weapon showcasing his developing rough sound, as well as a number of strong collaborations with singers from around the reggae spectrum (
Marcia Griffiths,
Dennis Brown, and
Wayne Wonder are all represented here). Inexplicably skipping the
Cocoa Tea collaborations as well as the call-outs of other DJs, the album does pick up on the return to gun talk and an increase in hip-hop influence that came with
Ranks'
Six Million Ways to Die album and the follow-ups, which also saw
Ranks gaining some notoriety in the U.S. The album can get a bit monotonous as two discs pass through
Cutty's barking delivery, but fans (especially newer fans of
Ranks' U.S. successes) are likely to find it an excellent primer to the sound of one of the longer-lasting members of the dancehall lineup. ~ Adam Greenberg
