Here are a few paragraphs about “Twice My Age” by Shabba Ranks featuring Krystal:

“Twice My Age” is a classic dancehall‑lover’s‑rock collaboration between Shabba Ranks and Krystal, first released in 1988 on the Rappin’ With the Ladies album. (Wikipedia) The song is built around a smooth, melodic riddim, courtesy of producer Gussie Clarke, that gives Krystal’s singing and Shabba’s deejaying lots of space to contrast and complement each other. (VP Records)

Lyrically, the song presents Krystal’s “young gal” persona who is unabashed in her attraction to an older man—“nearly twice my age.” She acknowledges the age difference openly, and even anticipates criticism (“I don’t care what people say”), but frames her desire in both emotional and material terms. She values maturity, stability, and the ability for him to provide — paying rent, bills, having a strong financial situation (“money in hand”) and not being an “idle jubby‐jubby” (a term for a lazy or non‑providing man). At the same time she reveals that emotional support and standing by her in difficult times also matter: “stood up for me when no one cared.” (Shazam)

Shabba’s contributions add texture: he plays the role of commentator, acknowledging the relationship, the motivations, and indirectly the judgments of society. His role is not to condemn but to offer context, almost validation. This interplay (Krystal’s voice of desire + Shabba’s voice of commentary) makes the song more than just a lovers’ tune; it becomes a reflection on generational gaps, social expectations, and pragmatic desires in relationships.

Musically and culturally, “Twice My Age” stands as one of the songs that helped bridge love‑songs and dancehall, showing that dancehall wasn’t just about slackness or party vibes but could also explore relationship dynamics with nuance. It also was influential in its time in Jamaica and among diaspora communities; it remains remembered as one of Shabba’s smoother, more romantic hits. (Pitchfork)

~AI

Twice My Age by Shabba Ranks & Krystal from Reggae Gold 2013 on VP Records Records # BPM 06:01 Reggae