Tiger
b. Norman Jackson, 1960, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. Tiger is perhaps the most entertaining of all Jamaican DJs, his voice a crazy growl one moment and something completely different the next. He recorded his debut, Why Can't You Leave Dreadlocks Alone, in 1978 as a singer under the name of Ranking Tiger, following with Knock Three Times and Love Line in 1981. Changing to a DJ he established his reputation on Black Star sound system before releasing Bad Boy Stylee and Mi Lover Mi Lover, all the while working out his own material on a tiny electronics keyboard. No Wanga Gut and No Puppy Love were his first real hits in 1985 and two years later Mango issued Tiger's self-produced debut album. By then he was a bona fide DJ sensation and embarked upon a remarkable series of songs for producers like Harry J (Sitting In La La), Kangal, Kings Crown, Ayeola (Iron Dumpling) and his own Tiger label. He reappeared the following year with a trio of releases for the Paradise label of which Rap Pon Riddim was his strangest yet. In 1989 he returned to the top with strong tunes for King Jammys, Gussie Clarke, Robert Livingston, Taxi, Steely And Clevie (Ram Dancehall), Blacka Dread and Penthouse, recording a duet with US rappers the Fat Boys in 1990 and becoming one of the first ragga DJs to make an impression on the hip hop scene. 1992 was his best year to date. When for Steely And Clevie proved a significant crossover record and helped usher in the new bogle style. Penthouse released the belated DEADLY album and hits for them (Crying Fool), Wild Apache, Exterminator, Shocking Vibes (Yuh Dead Now) and Tiger's own Hide & Seek label followed. Beep Beep Move Over was voiced in response to the mimicking Zebra. By 1993 Tiger's Chaos production company was signed to Columbia, who released CLAWS OF THE CAT that year. In December 1993 Tiger was seriously injured in a Kingston motorcycle accident, but is understood to be making a complete recovery.