POP MUSIC REVIEW : Rapper Relies on Sex, Not Song

Dancehall reggae music was a sidelight in Shabba Ranks’ headlining set Friday night at the Hollywood Palladium.

The real star was sex.

The steamy Jamaican rapper-singer tantalized the audience with crude lyrics and suggestive moves, topping things off with a strip tease and some of the tawdriest taunts this side of Hustler magazine.

Judging from the ecstatic squeals of the female fans, his strip routines scored big. Ranks also teased the males in the crowd by bringing out scantily clad women to gyrate on several numbers.

Actually, the sex excesses were a blessing. They took your mind off the mediocre music. Dancehall reggae--basically hip-hopped reggae--can be hypnotic and explosive. But, musically, this was a lazy, lounge-act performance.

Whatever happened to that promising Shabba Ranks who was making albums such as “Just Reality” and “Rappin’ With the Ladies” a few years ago for VP Records?

Since signing with Epic, he’s turned into a commercially oriented sex machine. Tawdry sex is OK as a sidelight in this kind of show but not as the main event.

Ranks headlined a lengthy reggae bill that included short sets by Patra and Mad Cobra. Look for the latter to someday challenge Ranks for the dancehall crown.