From performing at school events in Kingston and recording as MC Ranks on the iconic Twice My Age riddim to building a Caribbean radio network spanning major U.S. markets, Kacy “G City” Rankine’s journey is a story of Jamaican ambition transformed into international influence. Founded in 2001, RoadBlock Radio has evolved from an internet station into a multimedia platform reaching Caribbean audiences across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and South Florida, while Rankine has used that growing influence to support artists, businesses and communities, including helping raise more than US$550,000 for Jamaica’s hurricane recovery efforts.
Rankine’s story began in Jamaica, where he was raised by his grandparents and aunties while his parents lived overseas. A former student of Ardenne High School, he developed an early passion for music, forming The Kings Posse and performing at school events before taking his ambitions into Kingston’s recording scene. At Music Works studio, he recorded under the name MC Ranks on the Twice My Age riddim compilation. “I still remember hearing my song on the radio for the first time,” Rankine recalled. “My grandmother didn’t believe me when I told her I had a record coming out until she actually heard it playing.”
After graduating from high school, Rankine migrated to the United States with his mother. His experience in entertainment promotion eventually laid the foundation for RoadBlock Radio, which began as an internet station before developing into a broader Caribbean media platform. Today, its reach includes FM-HD markets covering the New York Tri-State area, Connecticut, South Florida and the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia region, alongside a global digital audience through platforms including iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Audacy and Amazon Alexa. The station’s programming spans reggae, dancehall, soca, Afrobeats, Caribbean news, artist interviews and community-focused content.
However, Rankine’s influence extends beyond broadcasting. RoadBlock Radio has become a platform for Caribbean entertainers, businesses and organisations while maintaining a strong connection to community causes. Its involvement in the Jamaica Strong Benefit Concert helped raise more than US$550,000 for hurricane recovery, supporting rebuilding efforts, schools and families affected by the disaster. “My mission has always been to give Caribbean culture a stronger voice while creating meaningful connections between communities, artists, businesses, and listeners,” Rankine has said.
As Jamaica marks its 64th anniversary of Independence, Rankine’s evolution from a Kingston schoolboy with dreams of hearing his music on the radio to an entrepreneur operating a far-reaching Caribbean media platform offers a powerful example of the country’s cultural influence abroad. RoadBlock Radio is not simply carrying Jamaican music into America; it is helping maintain a living connection between the Caribbean diaspora and home while introducing Caribbean culture to audiences far beyond the region.
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