Nokio the N-Tity

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Nokio the N-Tity (born Tamir Mateen Raheem Hameed Ruffin, January 21, 1979, Baltimore, Maryland) is an African-American record producer, songwriter, singer, and rapper.

1 Career
2 Personal
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Career

He is best known as the founder of the successful R&B group Dru Hill, serving as in-house producer and songwriter for the act. His bandmates are James "Woody" Green, Larry "Jazz" Anthony, Mark "Sisqó" Andrews, and the recently-added Rufus "Scola" Waller. The stage name "Nokio" is an acronym for "Nasty On Key In Octave".

In addition to serving as the guiding hand of the group he founded, Nokio has also served as producer for DMX ("What These Bitches Want", 1999) and Capone-N-Noreaga ("Y'all Don't Wanna", 2000). He was an A&R director for the Def Soul record label, and helped to discover and develop acts such as the teenage R&B/pop group 3rd Storee. Nokio currently works for Atlantic Records as an A&R for R&B singer Trey Songz.

In early 2008, the original quartet version of Dru Hill began touring alongside fellow 1990s R&B acts Tony! Toni! Toné!, Bell Biv Devoe, and their former producer Keith Sweat. On March 6, the group appeared on WERQ, a Baltimore radio station, to promote their reunion. In the midst of their interview, however, Woody announced he was quitting the group again to dedicate himself to his gospel ministry. A YouTube video shows Sisqó walking out on the interview as a result, and Woody, Nokio, and Jazz fighting, although the authenticity of the conflict has been called into question. ^[1] ^[2]

[edit] Personal

Nokio has a son, Jordan, by an ex-girlfriend. He is in a relationship with radio personality Angie Martinez, with whom he has a second son with, Niko Ruffin. Jordan was featured in the Dru Hill music video I Love You.