Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Ruff Ryders Entertainment

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Parent company
  
Universal Music Group

Genre
  
Hip hop

Location
  
Yonkers, NY

Status
  
Active

Country of origin
  
United States

Founded
  
1988

Ruff Ryders Entertainment moreskycomdataout10IMG415159jpg

Distributor(s)
  
Fontana Distribution (In the US) Universal Music Group (Outside the US)

Founders
  
Darrin Dean, Joaquin Dean, Chivon Dean, Joaquin "Waah" Dean, Darrin "Dee" Dean

Artists
  
DMX, Eve, Jadakiss, Swizz Beatz, The Lox

Albums
  
Let There Be EveRuff, And Then There Was X, We Are the Streets, Kiss of Death, Eve‑Olution

Ruff Ryders Entertainment is a record label founded by Joaquin "Waah" Dean and Darin "Dee" Dean and Chivon Dean, uncles and aunt of producer Swizz Beatz. It operated as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and was distributed by Fontana Distribution.

Contents

History

Ruff Ryders' founders were initially famous for managing rappers DMX and The Lox who became multi-platinum stars for Def Jam Recordings and Bad Boy Records in the late-1990s. After DMX's success, the management company started its own label imprint through Interscope Records, and had success with releases from female rapper Eve, former Bad Boy Records group The L.O.X. - the trio consisting of Jadakiss, Styles P and Sheek Louch, all of whom also released successful solo projects under the label, Drag-On, and Jin, winner of BET's 106 & Park freestyle MC battle competition. 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. In 2001, Cassidy and the labelmate Yung Wun 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, founders 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, 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 Artist(s)

  • Jin (Ruff Ryders/Atlantic)
  • Murda Mook (Ruff Ryders Indy)
  • Infa-Red (Ruff Ryders/Def Jam)
  • Cross (Ruff Ryders/Def Jam)
  • Kartoon (Ruff Ryders)
  • Flashy (Ruff Ryders)
  • Pirate (Ruff Ryders)
  • Grizz Rock (Ruff Ryders)
  • Scarlett (Ruff Ryders)
  • Aja Smith (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
  • L.T. (Ruff Ryders)
  • Parle (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
  • 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

    DMX

  • 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)

    • Drag-On

  • Opposite Of H2O (2000)
  • Hell And Back (2004)

    • Eve

  • Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady (1999)
  • Scorpion (2001)
  • Eve-Olution (2002)
  • Here I Am (Unreleased) (2007)
  • Lip Lock (2013)

    • Jadakiss

  • Kiss Tha Game Goodbye (2001)
  • Kiss Of Death (2004)
  • The Last Kiss (2009)
  • Top 5 Dead or Alive (2015)

    • Styles P

  • A Gangster And A Gentleman (2002)
  • Time Is Money (2006)
  • Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman (2007)

    • Sheek Louch

  • Walk Witt Me (2003)
  • After Taxes (2005)
  • Silverback Gorilla (2008)

    • The LOX

  • We Are The Streets (2000)

    • Jin

  • The Rest Is History (2004)

    • Ruff Ryders

  • 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)

    • Swizz Beatz

  • Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories (2002)
  • One Man Band Man (2007)

    • Cassidy

  • Split Personality (2004)
  • I'm A Hustla (2005)
  • B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story (2007)

    • Yung Wun

  • The Dirtiest Thirstiest (2004)

    • References

    Ruff Ryders Entertainment Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA