Ruff Ryders Entertainment

Ruff Ryders is a hip hop collective and record label founded by Joaquin "Waah" Dean and Darin "Dee" Dean and Chivon Dean, uncles and aunt of producer Swizz Beatz.[2] It operated as a subsidiary of Universal, and distributed by Fontana Distribution.

Ruff Ryders Entertainment
Parent companyUniversal
Founded1997; 23 years ago (1997; 23 years ago)[1]
FounderJoaquin "Waah" Dean
Darrin "Dee" Dean
Chivon Dean
Distributor(s)Fontana (US)
Universal (International)
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LocationYonkers, New York
Musical career
OriginNew York City, U.S.
Genres
Labels
Associated acts
Websiteruffryders.com
Past membersDMX
Eve
The Lox
Swizz Beatz
Drag-On
MC Jin
Fiend
Aja Smith

History

Ruff Ryders began as the managers of DMX and The LOX. Following DMX's chart success, the management company started its own label. The label signed several more acts who consequently became successful, including Eve, Drag-On, and Jin. The Deans' nephew, Swizz Beatz, was the main producer for most of the acts.

The label promoted the idea of all its acts being part of the "Ruff Ryders family", as evidenced when DMX won Best Rap Album at the 2000 Billboard Music Awards and was joined on stage by the other Ruff Ryders artists when he went to accept his award.[3]

In 2010 the Dean family relaunched the label as Ruff Ryders Indy, and has branched out into other areas, including Ruff Ryders Lifestyles (a sports bike organization),[4] Ruff Ryders Films,[5] Powerhouse Recording Studios, NatPro, a promotional company, and RR Rescue.

Former artists
  • DMX (Ruff Ryders/Def Jam)
  • Jin (Ruff Ryders/Virgin)
  • Fiend (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
  • Eve (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
  • The LOX (Ruff Ryders/D-Block/Bad Boy)
  • Swizz Beatz (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
  • Drag-On (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
  • Aja Smith (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
  • Pirate (Ruff Ryders)
  • Parle (Ruff Ryders/Interscope)
  • Infa-Red & Cross (Ruff Ryders/Def Jam)
  • Kartoon (Ruff Ryders)
  • Flashy (Ruff Ryders)

Labels founded by Ruff Ryder artists

Releases
Artist Album Details
DMX It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
  • Released: May 12, 1998
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: 4× Platinum
Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
  • Released: December 22, 1998
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: 3× Platinum
Ruff Ryders Ryde or Die Vol. 1
  • Released: April 27, 1999
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
Eve Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady
  • Released: September 14, 1999
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: 2× Platinum
DMX ...And Then There Was X
  • Released: December 21, 1999
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: 5× Platinum
The Lox We Are the Streets
  • Released: January 25, 2000
  • Chart position: #5 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
Drag-On Opposite of H2O
  • Released: March 28, 2000
  • Chart position: #5 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
Ruff Ryders Ryde or Die Vol. 2
  • Released: July 4, 2000
  • Chart position: #2 U.S.
Eve Scorpion
  • Released: March 6, 2001
  • Chart position: #4 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
Jadakiss Kiss tha Game Goodbye
  • Released: August 7, 2001
  • Chart position: #5 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
DMX The Great Depression
  • Released: October 23, 2001
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
Ruff Ryders Ryde or Die Vol. 3: In the "R" We Trust
  • Released: December 18, 2001
  • Chart position: #34 U.S.[6]
Styles P A Gangster and a Gentleman
  • Released: July 9, 2002
  • Chart position: #6 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
Eve Eve-Olution
  • Released: August 27, 2002
  • Chart position: #6 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
DMX Grand Champ
  • Released: September 16, 2003
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
Drag-On Hell and Back
  • Released: February 10, 2004
  • Chart position: #47 U.S.
Jadakiss Kiss of Death
  • Released: June 22, 2004
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
Jin The Rest Is History
  • Released: October 19, 2004
  • Chart position: #54 U.S.
Ruff Ryders The Redemption Vol. 4
  • Released: July 26, 2005
Sheek Louch After Taxes
  • Released: November 8, 2005
  • Chart position: #23 U.S.
DMX Year of the Dog... Again
  • Released: August 1, 2006
  • Chart position: #2 U.S.
Styles P Time is Money
  • Released: December 19, 2006
  • Chart position: #79 U.S.
Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman)
  • Released: December 4, 2007
  • Chart position: #52 U.S.
Jadakiss The Last Kiss
  • Released: April 7, 2009
  • Chart position: #3 U.S.

References
  1. Carl Lamarre (2017-04-22). "Eve Impresses, DMX Struggles Through His Set at Ruff Ryders Reunion Concert". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  2. Phares, Heather. Biography of Ruff Ryders at AllMusic. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  3. Simon, Reynolds (March 12, 2000). "Family Values in the Rap Business". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  4. "About Us". Ruff Ryders Lifestyles. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  5. http://ruffrydersfilms.com Archived 2014-02-21 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (2002-01-19). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
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