R.A. the Rugged Man

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R.A. the Rugged Man, real name R.A. Thorburn, is a rapper from Stony Brook, Long Island. He began his music career at age 12. At 18, he signed to Jive Records. R.A.’s legend, perpetuated by the P.R. biographies at his various labels, say he was dropped due to violent and disgusting behavior, but in interviews he disputes many of the more extreme stories told about him, adding that Jive just didn’t know how to break new artists at the time. Since then, he has worked with Mobb Deep, Smut Peddlers and Notorious B.I.G, as well as producers Erick Sermon, Trackmasters, DJ Quik, Alchemist, J-Zone, RZA, and Ayatollah (Lamont Dorrell). He was featured on all three of Rawkus’s Soundbombing albums, as well as the platinum-selling WWF Aggression album. In 2004 R.A. released his long awaited debut album “Die, Rugged Man, Die” which received good reviews but was met with little commercial success.

Coming from a broken Long Island home, R.A.’s father was a gun toting Vietnam veteran/mental patient affected by Agent Orange. His family was forever changed by the potent chemical — his brother Maxx was born handicapped and blind, eventually dying at the age of 10, while his sister Dee Ann couldn’t walk or speak.

In addition to his hip-hop notoriety, R.A. writes a monthly movie column for Mass Appeal magazine, is a contributor to The Ego Trip Book of Rap Lists (St. Martin’s Press) and Ego Trip’s Big Book of Racism (Harper Collins), and has written numerous articles for other magazines including Vibe, King, and Source.

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hip-hop, rap, underground hip-hop, underground rap, new york
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Legendary Classics Volume 1
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7	Uncommon Valor Ft. Jedi Mind Tricks	185
8	Windows Of The World Ft. Ayatollah & Dynasty The Emp	180
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Gsus1984 wrote:
yesterday evening

R.A FoR PrEsiDeNt !!!!

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hasafienda wrote:
Friday morning

Can't wait now. Need more Rugged Man.

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Squeezzle wrote:
Thursday morning

NJShady here http://s43.radikal.ru/i099/0911/59/ed4cd15ddf3b.jpg

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NJShady wrote:
Thursday morning

where did you hear that?

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Squeezzle wrote:
Tuesday morning

New album scheduled to come out first quarter 2010!

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hasafienda wrote:
last week

I already had damn near all the songs on the new album, but not "Who's Dat Guy?," which I have been looking for, for over a year online with no results.

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boozec wrote:
last week

R.A talking shit to Mayweather. http://www.[spam]/audio/676796581a1c2a9e/ http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=61084

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SLAM2DARK wrote:
last week

Living legend (!)

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HamsterOfHell wrote:
last week

R.A. what's the lesson for the day, Rugged Man?

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pex wrote:
last week

underrated! he is one of the best rapper alive!

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HamsterOfHell wrote:
last week

shit is banging

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Kreapsta wrote:
last week

v i agree, the album is good, but all old stuff. i want new r.a. material that hasnt been heard or bootlegged for a few years already. this guys too talented to deprive his long time devoted fans.

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Brotherjosh wrote:
last week

new album is the shit. R.A. is a fuckin legendary classic

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grahamdunne wrote:
last month

He is a good rapper... Can he craft a good song? No. Can he write an ill fucking verse? Most definitely. He needs better production too. The new "album" is a bit of a sham,its all old shit,i am aware its a compilation but some of these songs are like 15 years old. I have most of them songs anyway,if not all. He is the underground equivalent of Jadakiss,hot verses,wack albums.

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stoup wrote:
last month

legendary

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Vladislav-TrAsT wrote:
last month

fuckin' dope. love him.

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son-of-hiphop wrote:
last month

damit i herd the first tiem today 3 kings....SIIIIICK!!R.A to me the only rapper can mess with big puns flow!!

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Boooobies wrote:
last month

27th October motherfuckers!

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Ruler71 wrote:
last month

sick talent

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screamitsabear wrote:
last month

One hell of an album..

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