Ruff Sqwad

Ruff Sqwad
Genres Grime
Instruments Digital Audio Workstation
Sampler
Turntables
Keyboard
Synthesizer
Drum machine
Rapping
Years active 2001–present
Labels Takeover Entertainment Limited
Ruff Sqwad Recordings
Associated acts Wiley, Roachee, Trim, XTC
Members Tinchy Stryder
Slix
Dirty Danger
Rapid
Sir Spyro
Past members Mad Max
Shifty Rydos
DJ Scholar
Fuda Guy
DJ Begg

Ruff Sqwad is a grime crew,[1] the group was formed in 2001 in Bow, East London, various members and affiliates of the crew are considered key figures in the early development of grime music.[2]

Ruff Sqwad first became known in the early days of grime for the distinctive production style of the crews producers. Early Ruff Sqwad instrumentals released on white label are rare and fetch high prices on the second hand market,[3] notable early Ruff Sqwad instrumentals include Pied Piper,[4] Functions on the Low[5] and Misty Cold.[6] Functions on the Low, produced by Ruff Sqwad affiliate XTC has been described as one of the greatest tracks in the history of British electronic music.[7] The crew has released two mixtapes Guns and Roses Volume. 1 and Guns and Roses Volume. 2 as well as an instrumental compilation album White Label Classics.[8][9]

History

Origins: 2001-2005

Ruff Sqwad was formed by a group of teenage school friends in East London in 2001 or 2002. Many of the groups best known instrumentals were made by Rapid and Dirty Danger on cheap home PCs as 14 and 15 year olds.[10] The group would regularly bunk school to record songs and to press up vinyl at Music House.[7] The crew was active on the London pirate radio scene and at various times during the early 2000s had shows on Rinse FM, Heat, Flava, Mystic, and Deja Vu FM.[7] During this period the group regularly released singles on white label vinyl on an imprint called Ruff Sqwad Recordings following a template laid out by Wiley's Wiley Kat Recordings.

"Grime from the “golden days” of 2003-5 is very close to my heart. Even within this ultra-niche, ultra-creative genre full of variety, few crews had the unique magic of Ruff Sqwad. It was something about the colour and dizzying emotion in their melodies, the raw DIY aesthetic of their productions – many made on computes in their college music lab – the unusual penchant for ’80s stadium rock drum fills and guitar synths… The MCs had their individual styles dripping with charisma but as a team could sound so honed."

Mixtape releases: 2005-2006

In 2005, Ruff Sqwads first mixtape, Guns and Roses Volume. 1, was released. It was released in March 2005 on the independent record label Ruff Sqwad Recordings, and was very well received by the grime scene. It has been ranked amongst the best full-length studio albums of all time to come from the grime scene. The album was the first of a three-part album series.[12]

Ruff Sqwad's second mixtape, Guns and Roses Volume. 2, was released in October, 2006.[12] It was released on the independent record label Ruff Sqwad Recordings, and was very well received by the grime scene. Along with their debut album, Guns and Roses Volume. 1, it has also been ranked amongst the best full-length studio albums of all time to come from the grime scene.[12] During this period Ruff Sqwad performed regularly at live events including the very first Dirty Canvas night put on by NoHatsNoHoods.

Recent work

Following the solo success of Tinchy Stryder and other crew members Ruff Sqwad became less active as a group. In 2011 the crew recorded a single called Mario Balotelli. In 2012 Rapid and Dirty Danger collaborated with NoHatsNoHoods to recover recordings previously thought to be lost[11] of some of the groups early instrumentals which led to the release of a compilation album called White Label Classics. The group has been on hiatus since releasing Cold in 2013.

Members

Ruff Sqwad currently has five members: Tinchy Stryder, Slix, Dirty Danger, Rapid and Sir Spyro.[13]

Ruff Sqwad logo from 2006 – 2010

Tinchy Stryder

Tinchy Stryder (Real name: Kwasi Danquah III, born 14 September 1986), has been a member of the Ruff Sqwad since 2001. He is the best known member of the group having had much mainstream success with his solo material. Stryder has been prominent in the grime scene since the early 2000s and was a member of Roll Deep crew for a short period of time early in his career. His solo discography includes three albums and two UK number 1 singles.[14]

Slix

Slix (born 1982), is a grime MC and producer, and was a founding member of Ruff Sqwad. He is the cousin of Dizzee Rascal. He has released two solo mixtapes entitled "Down Volume 1" and "Down Volume 2".[14]

Dirty Danger

Dirty Danger (David Nkrumah, born 1984 and formerly known as Dirty Dangerous) is a grime MC and producer and founding member of Ruff Sqwad. Dirty Danger is one of the more active producers in the crew his best known track is Misty Cold. He produced various tracks for Tinchy Stryder's debut album “Star in the Hood”, as well as Ruff Sqwads two Guns and Roses Mixtapes. He has been involved with the Ruff Sqwad movement from the onset and is a well-known artist within the grime scene. He has released two solo mixtapes I Ain't Rich Yet and Danger Season

Prince Rapid

Rapid (Prince Owusu-Agyekum born November 8, 1985), is a grime musician and producer and founding member of Ruff Sqwad. Prince Rapid is one of the more active producers in the crew and is considered one of the best producers in the grime scene.[15] He produced the groups first underground single Tings in Boots". He has various solo releases including Turning Point and Rapid Fire.

Sir Spyro

Sir Spyro (born 1986), is a DJ and producer. Sir Spyro is the current DJ for Ruff Sqwad and is the tour DJ for Tinchy Stryder, he formally joined the group in 2011.[16] Spyro has a regular show on Rinse FM and has released numerous solo EPs.

Former members

Ruff Sqwad was founded in the year 2001 by Shifty Rydos, the original lineup also included Tinchy Stryder, Slix, Dirty Danger, Rapid, DJ Begg and Mad Max.[14] Frequent collaborators with the crew included XTC, Roachee, Wiley and Trim. DJ Scholar became a member of Ruff Sqwad in 2004 and remained in the crew until 2010.[14] Fuda Guy joined the crew in 2006 and released a solo mixtape while in the group called Headgone before leaving the group in 2012.[14]

Membership

Current

Former

Discography

Mixtapes

Titles Details
Guns and Roses Volume. 1[14]
  • Released: March 2005
  • Label: Ruff Sqwad Recordings
  • Formats: CD
Guns and Roses Volume. 2[14]
  • Released: October 2006
  • Label: Ruff Sqwad Recordings
  • Formats: CD

Bootleg mixtapes

Titles Details
Personal Bliss Inducers[14]
Ruff Kuts[17]

Compilations

Titles Details
White Label Classics[18]

Videography

List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title Year Director(s) Ref.
"Anna/Down" 2004 Brandon "Maniac" Jolie [14]
"Xtra"
(Tinchy Stryder with Ruff Sqwad)		 2007
"Walking U Home" 2008 Jak "FrSH" O'Hare &

Brandon "Maniac" Jolie

"RSMD"
"I Wanna Let U Know"
(with various Grime artists)		 2009 Jak "FrSH" O'Hare
"Tryna Be Me"
(Tinchy Stryder with Ruff Sqwad)
"On My Own"
(Blame with Ruff Sqwad)		 2010 Danann Breathnach
"Champions" Jak "FrSH" O'Hare
"This Side" 2011 Craig Capone
"Las Vegas" Luke Monaghan
"Mario Balotelli" 2012 Luke Monaghan & James Barber [19]
"Cold" 2013 SBTV [19]

White label releases

See also

References

  1. ↑ TINCHY STRYDER GOES BACK TO GRIME!?. MTV. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  2. ↑ Ruff Sqwad Boiler Room SEE YOUTUBE
  3. ↑ http://www.factmag.com/2012/12/03/died-in-your-arms-before-the-legendary-grime-unit-disbands-fact-meets-ruff-sqwad-to-talk-white-label-classics/3/
  4. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Ruff-Sqwad-Pied-Piper/release/2849597
  5. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/XTC-Misty-Cold-Remix-Functions-Baby-Wipes/release/1698948
  6. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Ruff-Sqwad-Misty-Cold/release/475043
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 http://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/dec/06/a-history-of-grime
  8. ↑ The Jam Session with Tinchy Stryder. BBC. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  9. ↑ Tinchy Stryder the interview. MTV. Retrieved 14 August 2011
  10. ↑ http://www.factmag.com/2012/12/03/died-in-your-arms-before-the-legendary-grime-unit-disbands-fact-meets-ruff-sqwad-to-talk-white-label-classics/2/
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 http://www.factmag.com/2012/12/03/died-in-your-arms-before-the-legendary-grime-unit-disbands-fact-meets-ruff-sqwad-to-talk-white-label-classics/
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Ruff Sqwad - Guns and Roses Volume. 1 - UK Record Shop. www.ukrecordshop.com.
  13. ↑ Ruff Sqwad ON The Rise. dropoutuk.com. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 "Ruff Sqwad - Grimpedia". Grimepedia. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
  15. ↑ http://www.factmag.com/2013/09/11/grime-producers-have-spent-the-last-24-hours-clashing-like-theres-no-tomorrow-stream-war-dubs-from-wiley-rapid-jme-preditah-and-more/
  16. ↑ "Sir Spyro - July 2011 Mix". pitchcontrollers.blogspot.com. July 7, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  17. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnBtJpkKaM8
  18. ↑ http://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Label-Classics-Ruff-Sqwad/dp/B00A96UFUK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1412456852&sr=8-3&keywords=ruff+sqwad
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Ruff Sqwad - Mario Balotelli - YouTube

External links

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