Gappy Ranks

Gappy ranks is a British dancehall musician of Jamaican and Dominican origin, also known as Jacob Lee Williams.

His love for music started in his hometown Harlesden, London where he was born & raised.

At a young age he would find him self performing to crowds within his home town & amongst friends & family who encouraged him to continue.

After growing up in Harlesden, north-west London, Gappy Ranks dealt with obstacles such as homelessness after leaving school, which resulted in his music taking a back seat. However, after overcoming this he joint forces with childhood friend & fellow local artist Reddman UK & was enlisted into uk dancehall group Suncycle with local artist such as Cash Money, Lady Chann & Naff Skrilla.

The group lead by recording artist dolomite found much help from community radio stations such as Beat fm & Unique Radio & they released their 1st album titled Suncyle which Gappy Ranks recorded his anthem Harlesden which proclaimed his love for his community.

They released their 2nd album i am somebody on the UK label Jamdown Records & found hits such as album title track i am somebody on the smash hit riddim coolie dance produced by Jamaican producer Scatta Burrell.

The group endured great reviews in commercial press & won them a contract with giant sports company Adidas. Learning the art of studio engineering while at Suncycle Gappy Ranks spent time in the studio to hone his musical talent which was encouraged by label CEO dolomite.

In 2004 he departed on good terms with Suncycle & started his solo career in which UK national newspaper new nation published a two page spread on his talents and expectations for the future.

Gappy Ranks recorded for former UK reggae giants jet star records in north west London in which he became assistant engineer with the help of A&R Valarie Skeet & chief engineer Tony Phillips.

This gave him time to grow & develop his love for music & network in which lead on to him working with record label Peckings Studio One where in 2009 he recorded tracks that would later propelled his name worldwide.

On boxing day 2009 Gappy Ranks childhood wish was granted as he performed at the celebrated annual sting event in Jamaica.

Following this and a world wide tour in 2010, he signed with 3 year deal with Greensleeves Records & on 23 august 2010 he released his 1st album Put the Stereo On with Peckings Studio One.

The album was well received worldwide as a time capsule & has gone in history as one of reggae’s great works with tracks such as album title track put the stereo on, mountain top & the smash hit heaven her eyes which went number 1 for 16 weeks in the UK.

His 2nd album thanks & praise included smash hits such as stinkin rich produced my Italian producer Macro Marco, the classic Longtime produced by Special Delivery & the heartfelt titled track Thanks & Praise produced by grammy award winning uk producer Jazzwad & featured Jamaican recording artist’s Delly Ranx & Russian who is better known for his work with international recording artist Vybz Kartel.

Gappy Ranks has since toured & performed throughout Europe, USA, West Indies, Australasia not to mention his trip to japan on march 2011 where he found himself in the middle of the worlds biggest earthquake & tsunami.

The disaster claimed over 20,000 lives in which Gappy Ranks recorded his tribute i was there.

In 2012 he self produced his very own track wine pon de edge which charted at number 1 on UK’s Choice fm & throw me herbs riddim which featured various artists as part of his cookies ep collection which in November 2012 he headlined his own 16 date cookies tour 2012 in west coast USA, Canada & Costa Rica which was supported by dynasty records artist bobby hustle.

2013 has already confirmed Gappy Ranks for raggamuffin 2013 reggae festival in New Zealand & return to Australia, not to mention his cookies reloaded tour 2013 of the east coast USA which he has visited a number of times.

2013 will be the release year of his 3rd album before breakfast which will include first planned emotional single tomorrow loves you produced by special delivery which has been received well alongside his club banger single money finger with international recording artist busy signal produced by Trinidad born UK producer Wundah.

Now self proclaimed grandson of Reggae, Gappy Ranks continues to make music & help the world for the better with music & understanding.