About Me
In many opinions The Most Popular "Ranking" Dee-Jay/Rub-A-Dub/Yemme MC, and in my opinion the "only" Ranking MC worth a hoot. Often overlooked Toyan emerged in the late 70's, spitting lyrics or "dancehall chat" to some of the most popular early dancehall albums/dancehall beats. My first experience listening to Toyan, was on "The Scientist" dub entitled "Dub Livity," from "Dub in The Roots Tradition." I had to know who that voice belonged to, and since he has become my favorite artist, that I know the least about. I have searched to the internet's end and cannot find the year in which he was born, ( any help much appreciated ) sadly only the year in which he was murdered which was in 1991. By far my biggest influence with a classy list of reggae all-stars backing him, -Such other talents who were murdered for no reason taking major talent away from the reggae world- such as, The Roots Radics Band, Sly and Robbie, Produced by Henry "Junjo" Lawes (R.I.P.), engineered by "The Scientist", remixed at King Tubby's (R.I.P.) for Greensleeves!!!! What else is ther to know?!? This is BYRON "RANKING TOYAN" LETTS MEMORIAL PAGE. TRULY ONE OF DI BEST..."...In the early '80s, Ranking Toyan, often billed as just Toyan, recorded with some of Jamaica's top dub producers, most notably Henry "Junjo" Lawes, Scientist, and Jah Thomas, and generally did so at Channel One with the Roots Radics as his backing band. Though his success didn't come until the early '80s, Toyan began his career in the mid-'70s, when he performed with the top sound systems of Kingston. In 1978, he made a name for himself with "Disco Pants" and then a year later with "Nah Kill Nuh Man," both songs released by Roots Tradition as 7" singles. With the aid of producers Ernest Hookim and Scientist, Toyan made the jump to full-length albums in 1981 with his self-titled album. Later that same year came what is generally agreed upon as Toyan's masterpiece, How the West Was Won, an album with staggering credentials: released by Greensleeves, written and produced by Henry "Junjo" Lawes, backed by the Roots Radics, recorded at Channel One, and mixed by Scientist at King Tubby's studio. In 1982, Toyan teamed with Lawes and Scientist again for another impressive album, Spar With Me, and remained busy at work on his numerous 1983 releases: two albums with producer Jah Thomas, Ghetto Man Skank and Murder, the latter also featuring Tipper Lee and Johnny Slaughter; two albums with Lawes, Every Posse Want Me and DJ Clash, the former also featuring producer Delroy Wright, the latter Nocodemus; and an album with Tony Robinson and the Roots Radics, Nice Time. Following this enormous year of releases, Toyan's career quieted considerably, ultimately coming to an end in 1991 when he was murdered. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide"
