Cutty Ranks had been recording hard-edged dancehall for the likes of producers like Winston Riley and Tony Rebel for more than half a decade by the time he recorded “The Stopper,” a breathlessly delivered blend of rude-boy lyrics and ragamuffin braggadocio that won considerable favor in New York and London clubs in the spring of 1991. In the wake of its success Ranks began to record at a break neck pace, releasing no less than three full-length albums in 1991 alone. Retreat is perhaps the best of these releases and consists of some hard-edged re-cuts of some of Ranks’ earlier singles as well as a host of new material. The title number is itself a reworking of Ranks’ 1990 hit “Retreat (Ugly Gal)”, whose lyrics have been modified to offer a warning to any sound boys foolish enough to challenge Cutty to musical combat. Ranks sounds almost maniacally inspired throughout Retreat, and deals out taunts, boasts, and entendres with the same reckless speed and razor sharp wit that characterizes all of his work during this period.