Cutty Ranks, born Philip Thomas, emerged in the '80s as a notable challenger to Shabba Ranks in the ragga scene. With a distinctive stone voice akin to Shabba's, Ranks brought a fresh sound to the genre with unique beats and lyrical content centered around "gun talk and slackness." Signing with Donovan Germain's Penthouse label in 1990, he released standout albums like The Stopper and Lethal Weapon that highlighted his skills and set him apart from his peers.