I finally got around to reading that Shabba Ranks article in the latest Fader (probably because it’s free online now), and I gotta say it was a pretty good read.  I mean, I knew Shabba was the man back in the day and that he was hella influential, but dang!  This man is a living legend.  The Fader and Eddie “Stats” Houghton have done Shabba justice.  Real Patois.

You should check out the article and stream and/or download this filthy all vinyl Shabba mix from Mr.  “Stats” himself (via Ghetto Palms).  Listen to the mix while you read article for the full Shabba! experience.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

tracklist

It’s always a pleasure to see the growth of my good friend Walshy Fire. Some folks just know him as a member of the Miami-based super sound system Black Chiney but he brings a lot more to the table than that. In addition to just being an all around good dude and back breaking club DJ, he puts out fire mixtapes and recently transitioned from being a pirate radio DJ to rocking a mainstream radio gig on 103.5 The Beat in South Florida. The show he hosts on Sunday evenings alongside Lady Terra is called Rockers Island (tune in via the web) and I’m tripping that he just interviewed soca king Machel Montano a week ago. Big ups to Eddie STATS Houghton for posting this over on Large Up.  Check out this clip of Walshy and Montano chatting as the former soca monarch addresses rumors of him being on drugs (I missed that one!), why he skipped Carnival in Trinidad this year, and what his plans are for 2010.