R.A. The Rugged Man ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Many Of Hip-Hop’s Greatest Rappers Name Their Top 5 MCs

Note: Jadakiss recently appeared on ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby podcast and was asked who his top 5 Hip-Hop groups of all-time were. This article has been updated below with his response, as well as The Game’s top 5 LA Rap albums. A few days ago, during a podcast appearance, Ice... Read more

July 12, 2022 Video

Screwball Member Hostyle Has Passed Away At The Age Of 47

Hostyle, a founding member of Queens, New York Hip-Hop group Screwball, has died. R.A. The Rugged Man, Cormega, and other collaborators of the man born Frederick Ivey have acknowledged his passing. He was reportedly 47 years old. His cause of death has not been made public at this time. With... Read more

January 20, 2020 News

R.A. The Rugged Man Is A Hip-Hop Showman Who Rapped His Way From Loser To Legend

R.A. The Rugged Man knows how to grab eyeballs. The Long Island lyricist with the cult following announced his first album in nearly seven years today (January 15). So in sharing the good news, the respected MC leads with a video single that is captivating visually while offering a lot... Read more

January 15, 2020 Video

R.A. The Rugged Man Readies His 1st Album Since 2013. He Returns With Lethal Lyricism (Video)

R.A. The Rugged Man has been a standard bearer for the sometimes-repulsive yet often-witty raps since he burst on the scene in the mid-1990s, However, since Y2K, this veteran MC has grown to be so much more. His development as a lyricist was apparent on his 2013 album, Legends Never... Read more

January 14, 2019 Video

Eligh, R.A. The Rugged Man & Eamon Chase The High Of Self-Love (Audio Premiere)

Eligh is one of the busiest members of the ultra-prolific Living Legends crew. This MC/producer has released more than 20 solo and collaborative albums since 1996. After a hiatus from 2006-2009, the Los Angelino came back reinvigorated and with a new perspective—thanks in large part, to sobriety. While he didn’t... Read more

June 6, 2018 Audio, Exclusive

A-F-R-O, R.A. The Rugged Man & Gift Of Gab Put On 1 Of The Year’s Best Lyrical Displays (Video)

Three MCs, united by a spitfire, rapid delivery, as if sped-up on steroids, make this release from Bay Area’s Gift of Gab (one-half of Blackalicious) a masterclass in the art of rhyming. “Freedom Form Flowing.” Blackalicious’ Gift Of Gab Tackles Gentrification With Artisanal Rhymes (Video) The mellow beat produced by... Read more

September 7, 2017 Ready Or Not, Video

J.U.I.C.E. Once Beat Eminem In A Battle. Now He Bodies Hulk Hogan In A Freestyle (Video)

In February of this year, famed freestyle and battle MC J.U.I.C.E called out Eminem for a rematch. Before Em' would sign with Aftermath Entertainment and quickly go on to super-stardom, he lost to the Chicago, Illinois MC in a controversial 1997 Scribble Jam final round battle. Proud of his title,... Read more

August 6, 2017 Video

Gift Of Gab, R.A. The Rugged Man & A-F-R-O Rap With Fast & Furious Flows (Audio)

Blackalicious MC Gift Of Gab released a new EP last week called Rejoice! Rappers Are Rapping Again!. The Sacramento, California veteran MC extraordinaire known for his early 2000s "Alphabet Aerobics" lyrical exercise (that even had "Harry Potter" busting raps) and a host of other dazzling displays releases a song that... Read more

May 2, 2017 Audio

R.A. The Rugged Man Remembers Watching Biggie Write Rhymes In The Studio (Video)

Early on in his career, R.A. The Rugged Man worked alongside The Notorious B.I.G., but the musical partnership was cut short when Biggie was killed in 1997. However, the Long Island, New York MC was around early enough to witness Christopher Wallace before, during, and after he became Big Poppa,... Read more

February 21, 2017 Video

R.A. The Rugged Man & Psycho Les Drop Back To The Future Bars (Video)

Last year, The Beatnuts' Psycho Les released his Dank God, Vol. 1 album on his own Pit Fight imprint. The Corona, Queens veteran MC/producer enlisted help from Alchemist, Kool Keith, Inspectah Deck, Vinnie Paz, Pete Rock, and many others. One of the standout moments, however is "Ba Ba Barz." Featuring... Read more

January 1, 2017 Video

Here Are The Best Hip-Hop Performances & Videos Of 2016

2016 has been a unique year. With it, Hip-Hop had a lot to say, visually. Poets new and old, independent and well-heeled, used their art to promote awareness, suggest change, and when appropriate, provide distraction. At a time when the music video largely lives online, artists made statements—about themselves, their... Read more

December 13, 2016 Food for Thought

The Symphony 2016 Was Just 1 Of The Truly Amazing Performances & Videos Of The Year

2016 has been a unique year. With it, Hip-Hop had a lot to say, visually. Poets new and old, independent and well-heeled, used their art to promote awareness, suggest change, and when appropriate, provide distraction. At a time when the music video largely lives online, artists made statements—about themselves, their... Read more

December 12, 2016 Video

KRS-One & R.A. The Rugged Man Trade Verses On A Beat That’s Ready For Primetime. (Audio)

UPDATE (12/21): Predator Prime has released the music video to "Primetime," posted below: Hip-Hop can often be a family business. Dr. Dre and Warren G are half-brothers. ONYX's Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Starr are cousins. Peter Gunz and Cory Gunz are father and son. Across the landscape of the Rap... Read more

September 15, 2016 Audio

Sadat X, R.A. The Rugged Man & Thirstin Howl Are Proud Industry Outcasts (Video)

Over 17 years ago, Rawkus Records released Soundbombing 2. That LP, a Top 30 on the Pop charts, helped further the ongoing introductions of Eminem, Dilated Peoples, High & Mighty, Company Flow, and others to the masses. An elite independent label at the time, Rawkus (then home to Mos Def,... Read more

August 9, 2016 Video

R.A. Shows That Even Rugged Men Change With Fatherhood (Video)

R.A. The Rugged Man is one of Hip-Hop's true wild hearts. The Long Island, New York veteran was famously banned from numerous label offices (including his own) during the 1990s for his storied antics. R.A.'s live shows play host to bloody and sweaty mosh pits, make-out sessions with fans, and... Read more

June 14, 2016 Video

A-F-R-O Describes Achieving “Hip-Hop Dreamland” While Still A Teenager (Video Interview)

A-F-R-O was among the performers at this past weekend's second annual J Dilla Weekend in Miami, Florida. The 18 year-old Bellflower, California representative has gotten critical cosigns from DJ Premier, GZA, Jean Grae, and others, as well as being mentored by his personal favorite MC, R.A. The Rugged Man. Speaking... Read more

February 8, 2016 Exclusive, Food for Thought, Video

A-F-R-O Has A New EP Coming. He Praises R.A. The Rugged Man’s Mentorship

Eighteen year-old Bellflower, California MC A-F-R-O has had quite a 12 months. The artist went from relative obscurity to working with his heroes, touring the world, and even appearing in Vh1 TV movie The Breaks. Cosigned by DJ Premier and GZA, All Flows Reach Out told HipHopDX how it was... Read more

February 2, 2016 News

“Adult Rappers” Is One Raw & Real Documentary About Hip-Hop Careers (Video)

Securing a career in Hip-Hop music is extremely hard. If you're lucky enough to achieve it, there is no guarantee that it will be glamorous. For a culture often portrayed in the mainstream as lavish, luxurious, and braggadocious, most working artists will be quick to tell you otherwise. Adult Rappers... Read more

January 12, 2016 TV/Film, Video

R.A. The Rugged Man & Tom Thum Revive The MC & Beatbox Collabo (Video)

Ever since releasing his Legends Never Die album in 2013, R.A. The Rugged Man has been supplying fans with a steady stream of ambitious visuals to go with the project. Today (August 31) he has released his ninth music video off the album, this time for the Tom Tom Club-tinged... Read more

August 31, 2015 Video

CZARFACE & A Self-Help Guru Aim To Improve YOUR Life Through Hip-Hop (Video)

It's been nearly two years since Inspectah Deck officially announced that a second CZARFACE album was in the works. Ramping up for this month's release, Esoteric participated in a hilarious parody of a late night TV paid program. CZARFACE's Eso' sits down with infomercial entrepreneur and author Michael Alden for... Read more

June 3, 2015 Video

Do Remember: Rawkus Records’ Soundbombing 2 Album (Audio)

May 18, 1999, Rawkus Records would enter their most definitive year with their fifth full-length release in Soundbombing II. Distributed by the same Priority Records that had been so integral to the successes of Ruthless, Rap-A-Lot, and Roc-A-Fella, Brian Brater and Jarret Myer's imprint was truly stepping out. 1998 had... Read more

May 14, 2015 Throwback

Chris Rivers, Grandmaster Caz & More Bridge Generations in a Cypher w/ R.A. The Rugged Man (Video)

R.A. The Rugged Man is gearing up to go on his Shoot Me In The Head Tour, but before heading out, he did a show at SOB's in New York City and brought out an all-star cast to join him in a cypher on stage. The cypher bridged together generations... Read more

April 13, 2015 Video

Shuko Recruits Saigon, R.A. The Rugged Man & Vinnie Paz On New Track (Audio)

German producer Shuko is getting ready to release his debut album, For The Love Of It (January 30), and has unveiled a new track, "Change Gonna Come" off the album featuring Saigon, Vinnie Paz, R.A. The Rugged Man and Carolyn D'Elia. Shuko has worked with all of the aforementioned artists... Read more

January 30, 2015 Audio

R.A. The Rugged Man Makes An Artful & Powerful Indictment Against The Media (Video)

Back in 2013, Long Island, New York Hip-Hop veteran R.A. The Rugged Man released a monster in Legends Never Die. The Nature Sounds release garnered due praise, and one of the dense moments within was the track "Media Midgets." Produced by 20-plus-year collaborator Buckwild (D.I.T.C.) and mixed by super-engineer Chris... Read more

January 20, 2015 Video

Big REC & R.A. The Rugged Man Dumb Out The Dope Way (Video)

Although he's not a new artist per se, Atlanta, Georgia-based Big REC got a huge, well-deserved boost this year, care of a Diamond D-produced album, Doomsday. One of the standouts on that indie LP is "The Dumb Out," featuring one of the epitomes of industry fortitude: R.A. The Rugged Man.... Read more

November 25, 2014 Fresh, Video

Method Man & R.A. The Rugged Man Talk Music Industry Black-Balling (Video)

R.A. The Rugged Man, who's been a longtime label-mate of Masta Killa at Nature Sounds, predates a lot of Wu-Tang Clan members, as far as record contracts. The early 1990s Jive Records sensation known as Crustified Dibbs recently got up with Method Man backstage on the road, recalling their circa-1993... Read more

August 18, 2014 Fresh, Video

Everything That’s Great About The ’80s Comes To New Life In R.A. The Rugged Man’s Ill New Visual (Video)

Coming up in the mid-1980s New York City Hip-Hop era, R.A. The Rugged Man traveled from Long Island to Brooklyn to experience his favorite MCs. The friend of The Notorious B.I.G. and longtime collaborator of Havoc and Sadat X loved Hip-Hop's history, and collected tapes and studied flows. The 20-plus-year... Read more

June 2, 2014 Fresh, Video

KRS-One Returns Alongside Domingo, Chris Rivers, Bamboo & R.A. The Rugged Man (Audio)

From the raw streets of East New York, Domingo is a veteran producer known for sharing an updated boom-bap sound with the likes of KRS-One, Masta Ace, Kool G Rap, and Canibus. A frequent worker on major label and independent LPs, Domingo has also released an assortment of his own... Read more

May 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

R.A. The Rugged Man, Vinnie Paz & Sadat X Honor Sam Peckinpah In Style (Video)

In addition to his knowledge of Hip-Hop, R.A. The Rugged Man is a boxing enthusiast and huge film buff. On his 2013 acclaimed LP Legends Never Die, R.A. linked with frequent collaborator Vinnie Paz (of Jedi Mind Tricks) and Brand Nubian's Sadat X for "Sam Peckinpah." For those who might... Read more

October 25, 2013 Fresh, Video

R.A. The Rugged Man – The Dangerous 3 ft Brother Ali & Masta Ace (Video)

Truly, this is my favorite collaboration so far of 2013. While R.A. The Rugged Man's story has always inspired me (and I'm a fan of his journalism), his released works rarely moved me. However, Legends Never Die is truly a grabbing album this year, and this song is my favorite... Read more

September 4, 2013 Fresh, Video

Talib Kweli – Human Mic (Video)

R.A. The Rugged Man directed this Prisoner Of Conscious video. The treatment to the "Human Mic" single plays with the title, with the Brooklyn, MC oozing words and his kicks his verses. Throughout his career, Kweli has embodied what it means to master the ceremony. And over 15 years removed from... Read more

August 20, 2013 Fresh, Video