Ranking Joe is a reggae DJ from Kingston, Jamaica, born in 1959. He is known as a veteran rub-a-dub performer and has also been called the Bionic DJ for his fast lyrical delivery.

Career

Joseph Jackson begins his career in Jamaica as one of the early disciples of U Roy. His first recording appears under the name Little Joe, issued for Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One label and built on Larry Marshall’s “Mean Girl” riddim. Producer Prince Tony Robinson later renames him Ranking Joe.

His first LP is issued in 1977 on Groove Master. He also records for a number of other Jamaican producers, including Joe Gibbs, Bunny Lee, Sonia Pottinger and Jo Jo Hookim. During this period he becomes resident DJ for Ray Symbolic Hi Fi with Jah Screw before moving to U Roy’s Stur Gav Sound.

Later work

Ranking Joe is based in the United States and continues to perform with sounds such as Sir Tommy’s, African Love and Downbeat Sound. He also releases material on his own label, Ranking Joe Universal, and appears as a guest on productions by Twilight Circus, Jah Warrior and Easy Star Allstars, including Dub Side Of The Moon.