Tiger, born Norman Washington Jackson in Kingston, Jamaica, is
one of dancehall’s most distinctive voices from the late 1980s and
early ’90s. Known for his rough-edged delivery and unmistakable
growl, he helped define the sound of the era with a style that
stood apart even in a crowded field of bold Jamaican deejays. He
first began recording in the late 1970s under the name Ranking
Tiger, then moved into sound system work in the early 1980s, where
he built the presence and momentum that would make him a club and
radio favorite.
His breakthrough came with a string of local hits, including “No
Wanga Gut” and “No Puppy Love,” which led to wider recognition and
a deal with Mango Records. That label released his debut album, Mi
Name Tiger, in 1986, introducing a performer who could turn humour,
swagger and streetwise commentary into sharp, immediate dancehall
records. Through the second half of the decade, Tiger became a
familiar name across Jamaica, working with producers such as King
Jammy, Gussie Clarke, Harry J, Sly & Robbie, Donovan Germain and
Philip “Fatis” Burrell.
Tiger’s appeal was never only about raw energy. He had a way of
sounding playful and dangerous at once, a quality that made his
singles memorable and gave his voice a lasting identity. He also
moved into production, forming his own Tiger label and shaping
material that carried his attitude beyond his own performances.
Among his better-known songs, “Cool Me Down” reached a wider
audience after appearing on the Cool Runnings soundtrack, while
“T’ings Na Go So,” his 1989 collaboration with the Fat Boys,
brought him into a hip-hop crossover moment that reflected
dancehall’s growing international reach.
By the early 1990s, Tiger had extended his profile further with
Columbia’s Chaos imprint and the album Claws of the Cat, before a
serious motorcycle accident slowed his momentum. Even so, his
recordings remain part of the core dancehall canon: inventive,
characterful and rooted in the lively, competitive spirit of
Jamaican sound system culture.
