Ruff Ryders Entertainment
| Ruff Ryders Entertainment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | Universal |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder |
Joaquin "Waah" Dean Darrin "Dee" Dean Chivon Dean |
| Status | Active |
| Distributor(s) |
Fontana (In the US) Universal (Outside the US) |
| Genre | Hip Hop |
| Country of origin | United States of America |
| Location | New York City, New York, United States of America |
| Official website | RuffRyders.com |
Ruff Ryders is a record label founded by Joaquin "Waah" Dean and Darin "Dee" Dean and Chivon Dean, uncles and aunt of producer Swizz Beatz.[1] It operated as a subsidiary of Universal, and distributed by Fontana Distribution.
History
Ruff Ryders' was notable for managing DMX and The LOX who became stars for Def Jam and Bad Boy in the late-1990s. After DMX's success, the management company started its own label imprint through Interscope, and had success with Eve, The L.O.X., Drag-On, and Jin, winner of BET's 106 & Park freestyle rap battle. The Deans' nephew, Swizz Beatz, is the main producer for most of the acts on the roster.
In 2000, when DMX accepted an award for the best Rap album at the Billboard Music Awards, the rapper was joined on the stage by his fellow Ruff Ryders' artists.[2] In 2001, Cassidy signed to the label Full Surface through Swizz Beatz.
As the first Reunion Project since their 2005 Album The Redemption, Vol. 4 Jadakiss and Swizz Beatz invited Drag-On, Eve, Styles P, Sheek Louch and DMX, who had just been released from jail, for the Remix of "Who's Real". A Ruff Ryders Reunion Album was announced by Swizz Beatz and was originally set to release in 2008 but it got pushed back.
In 2010, Joaquin and Darin Dean decided to revamp the brand through a new venture known as Ruff Ryders Indy, as a Fontana/Universal affiliated distribution company.
In addition to Ruff Ryder Indy, other brands include Ruff Ryders Films,[3] Powerhouse Recording Studios, NatPro, a promotional company, and RR Rescue.
Artists
- DMX (Ruff Ryders/Def Jam)
- Lil' Waah (Ruff Ryders Indy)
- Quadir Lateef (Ruff Ryders Indy)
- Drew James (Ruff Ryders Indy)
- Brillo Haze
Former artists
- Jin (Ruff Ryders/Atlantic)
- Fiend (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
- Eve (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
- The LOX (Ruff Ryders/D-Block/Bad Boy)
- Jadakiss (Ruff Ryders/Interscope Records)
- Styles P (Ruff Ryders/D-Block/E1)
- Sheek Louch (Ruff Ryders/Interscope Records)
- Swizz Beatz (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
- Drag-On (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
Labels founded by Ruff Ryder artists
- Bloodline Records Founded By DMX
- D-Block Records Founded By The Lox
- Full Surface Founded By Swizz Beatz
- Hood Environment Entertainment Founded By Drag-On
- From the Rib Music Founded By Eve
- SoRaspy Founded By Jadakiss
Releases
- It's Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998)
- Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998)
- ...And Then There Was X (1999)
- The Great Depression (2001)
- Grand Champ (2003)
- Year of the Dog...Again (2006)
- The Definition of X: The Pick of the Litter (Greatest Hits) (2007)
- Undisputed (2012)
- Opposite Of H2O (2000)
- Hell And Back (2004)
- Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady (1999)
- Scorpion (2001)
- Eve-Olution (2002)
- Here I Am (Unreleased) (2007)
- Lip Lock (2013)
- Kiss Tha Game Goodbye (2001)
- Kiss Of Death (2004)
- The Last Kiss (2009)
- Top 5 Dead or Alive (2015)
- A Gangster and a Gentleman (2002)
- Time Is Money (2006)
- Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman (2007)
- Walk Witt Me (2003)
- After Taxes (2005)
- Silverback Gorilla (2008)
- We Are The Streets (2000)
- The Rest Is History (2004)
Ruff Ryders[4]
- Ryde or Die Vol. 1 (1999)
- Ryde or Die Vol. 2 (2000)
- Ryde or Die Vol. 3: In the "R" We Trust (2001)
- The Redemption Vol. 4 (2005)
- Ruff Ryders: Past, Present, Future (2011)
- Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories (2002)
- One Man Band Man (2007)
- Split Personality (2004)
- I'm A Hustla (2005)
- B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story (2007)
- The Dirtiest Thirstiest (2004)
References
- ↑ Phares, Heather. Biography of Ruff Ryders at AllMusic. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
- ↑ Simon, Reynolds (March 12, 2000). "Family Values in the Rap Business". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
- ↑ http://ruffrydersfilms.com
- ↑ Discography for Ruff Ryders at AllMusic. Retrieved October 26, 2008.