Parent company Universal Music Group Genre Hip hop Location Yonkers, NY | Status Active Country of origin United States Founded 1988 | |
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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
Former Artist(s)
Labels founded by Ruff Ryder artists
Releases
DMX
Drag-On
Eve
Jadakiss
Styles P
Sheek Louch
The LOX
Jin
Ruff Ryders
Swizz Beatz
Cassidy
Yung Wun