Ruff Ryders Entertainment may not get the comparable mentions of a Roc-A-Fella or G-Unit, but they should. The label launched as an offshoot of the party promoting by the Dean siblings in the late 1980s would be responsible for an artist with five consecutive #1 albums in DMX. Moreover, the “double R” hit Hip-Hop Heads off with The LOX (and many of their solo projects), Eve, Swizz Beatz, Cassidy, and even Jin.

DMX & Swizz Beatz Return With A New Banger That Confirms The Dog Is BACK (Audio)

Moreover, after more than 20 years, Ruff Ryders still work with DMX, Swizz, and others, proving an ironclad loyalty, and a family that’s seemingly never been criticized over bad business or poor work ethic. The imprint has a new artist in Quadir Lateef. From Buffalo, New York, this MC attacks the track with a ruggedness that aligns with Ruff Ryders’ legacy. In 2016, Lateef revealed via Instagram that X had agreed to mentor him, making the cypher complete.

What’s more, Quadir (a Howard University athletic alum) is working with one of the hottest producers in Hip-Hop, care of Statik Selektah. The same DJ/producer who helped ignite the careers of Action Bronson, REKS, and Freddie Gibbs is backing the Upstate New Yorker. Their first video single together is “Exorcism,” and it snaps:

DMX Made Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood Because Of A $1 Million Wager

Inside the booming delivery, Lateef says he walks in the path of Biggie, Malcolm X, and De La Soul’s Posdnous. Those are powerful words, and the kind of statements that make it very easy for this grinding indie veteran to find his audience.

According to 2DopeBoyz, the EP will be called Ugly Face, and should arrive in 2017 in a joint venture between Ruff Ryders and Statik’s ShowOff imprint.

DMX Bites Right Through The Flesh In New Single “Blood Red” (Audio)

Previously, Quadir has worked with Brother Ali and Skyzoo. In 2015, he self-released his latest project, Voice of Biggie Mind of Malcolm.

#BonusBeat: Catch Quadir Lateef’s 2017 “Friday Fire Cypher” on Sway In The Morning:

Sway admits that after seeing Quadir smash a performance late night at a recent Rich Nice and D Prosper event, he invited him to the show.