59-y-o Iba Ranks ‘ripe and ready’ for musical return

After a nearly two-decade hiatus from the scene, singer Iba Ranks is adamant that he is "jus' ripe and ready" to make his mark on the dancehall and reggae music scene.

The 59-year-old artiste, who is known for popular singles such as Dance For My Baby and Momma Love, said that "age is just a number", insisting that his seniority will have no bearing on his ambitions to get back on track. He, however, concedes that the musical landscape has changed a lot since his glory days with a microphone.

"Our [time] was different, but now wi know seh it step up, suh if we even a duh dancehall, wi nuh dweet inna di deady-deady way; wi try fi mek it spicy because, remember, di younger generation dem ting spicy, enuh ... suh wi even affi speed up pon di talking to. Me hungry fi it, enuh; mi well waan come back to di voicing (recording), suh mi have di joy a flow fi it right now," a vibrant Iba Ranks told THE WEEKEND STAR.

He added that although he might not have that "rapid burst" when 'spitting' lyrics, as in his earlier days, he believes he has the "right pace" to keep up with these new-generation artistes.

The elder artiste, whose given name is Ansferd Jackson, said that as a product of Trench Town, music was always in his bones, owing in part to the strong musical influences from reggae pioneer Bob Marley and Bongo Herman that drove his passion to a musical career in 1991.

He is confident that with consistent recording he can achieve his 2027 goals.

"Di goal is fi know seh mi sekkle [and] steady now - mi can achieve a nice home fi di kids and mek everyone comfortable," he said.

The Music is my Heart artiste said that he embarked on his musical redemption just over a year ago on the encouragement from reggae-dancehall stalwart and long-time friend Buju Banton.

"Me did small but mi voice big, enuh, suh even when I was younger and playing wid some a di kids weh mi and dem a di same age, dem parents used to run mi weh because dem seh mi sound like a big man, but a jus' di voice. Suh dis voice weh dem a seh too rough and mek mi shame more time, mi get fi find out seh a 'good voice'. As mi get older people start seh, 'But him have a good voice, man,'" he said.

In what could've turned out to be a 'curse', Iba Ranks said he flipped it into a blessing and started tuning into and admiring the "authentic sound" of late deejay Major Worries, who inspired him to take his 'grown voice' to the beats and created a musical harmony, which, he said, was often mistaken for Shabba Ranks' music.

Iba Ranks said he plans to release two singles, The Girls Dem Anthem and Do Di Money Whine, soon. He also urges other retired entertainers not to be deterred from following their dreams because of their age.

"From dem have dem voice, den yuh can come back. Sometimes some man a seh from dem nuh have dat pitch deh again, it nuh mek no sense ... but me know how me feel inna myself. Dem a seh mi get old now, but age is just a number - you are as young as how you feel. And me feel like mi jus' ready ... jus' ripe ... and me feel good inna myself," Iba Ranks passionately shared.