HipHopDx recently caught up with R.A. the Rugged Man for a very in-depth interview. This is definitively a must read if your a fan or if you want to know more about R.A. the Rugged Man. He discusses things like working up with Hopsin, the Inconsistency In Hip Hop Censorship, Media Coverage Of Hip Hop, The 20 Year Span Of Crustified Dibbs & R.A. the Rugged Man and more. Be sure to check out the full interview, the link is at the bottom of the page.
Here is part of the interview:
There was once a time when R.A. the Rugged man was banned from entering the offices of at least one major record label. That wasn’t a ban in the hyperbolic, “Banned From TV” sense, but a literal, standing order not to be within a specified distance of the label’s headquarters. Luckily, things have changed.
“And, you know, I was young, crazy and had issues in my mind back then,” R.A. explains almost wistfully. “So they were scared of me. You get a little older, you calm down, and now everybody says, ‘Oh, R.A.’s the nice guy. We like him. Let him in the house, and let him have dinner with the kids.’”
There’s no standing dinner date. But on a typically sunny day, R.A. does appear at HipHopDX’s Hollywood office with a friend for an interview. There’s playful banter back and forth, and a hilarious story about performing in the boonies of East Tennessee with Cappadonna (who somehow ended up doing “The Twist”)—none of which should lull you into believing R.A. isn’t still intensely passionate about his craft.
He’s still liable to get kicked off of a commercial flight for wearing a shirt emblazoned with the phrase “Every Record Label Sucks Dick.” These days a faux pas by this particular site or an inconsistent review of his new album is laughed off, but not before he calls bullshit. At a time when rappers are pre-screening interview questions as if they’re vetting a potential political candidate, his candor is becoming increasingly rare.
R.A. the Rugged Man’s latest album, Legends Never Die was released April 30 via Nature Sounds. It is currently available at retailers, online and via iTunes.
R.A. the Rugged Man Talks With Hip Hop Dx @ HipHopDX.com
Faygoluvers Comments
iLLtheClown
Comment posted on Saturday, May 4th, 2013 01:15 pm GMT -5 at 1:15 pm
RA murders every verse.
novocaine
Comment posted on Monday, May 6th, 2013 05:32 pm GMT -5 at 5:32 pm
he needs to shave that thing off his face. makes him look like a persian rug salesman.
average rapper too. hes lucky tech agreed to do a track with him.
made his whole alum.
iLLtheClown
Comment posted on Monday, May 6th, 2013 09:37 pm GMT -5 at 9:37 pm
Ladies & Gentlemen the bitterest of bitter. To scared to cop the record. To scared to listen to any verse from RA especially the Holla Loo Yuh verse. Not even worth mentioning his name https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKmM7crrjNE C-lance even made a Seven beat.
novocaine
Comment posted on Monday, May 6th, 2013 10:14 pm GMT -5 at 10:14 pm
keep telling yourself its good music.
it might even come true.
iLLtheClown
Comment posted on Monday, May 6th, 2013 11:25 pm GMT -5 at 11:25 pm
You’re the fucking moron of the week. How does it feel kid? Any real fan of hip-hop will tell you who murders it. That went over ya head. I’m not gonna dumb it down.
novocaine
Comment posted on Monday, May 6th, 2013 11:39 pm GMT -5 at 11:39 pm
i cant help it if your favourite persian rug salesman cant seel a decent amount of records.
any real fan of hip hop will ask you who RA the rugged man is.
iLLtheClown
Comment posted on Monday, May 6th, 2013 11:50 pm GMT -5 at 11:50 pm
Any real hip-hop fan will tell you Biggie Smalls said that RA The Rugged Man was the better rapper. Any real hip-hop fan will tell you when RA and Timbo King are together it’s an instant classic. Any real hip-hop fan will tell you Talib would agree that RA is instant Legend.
novocaine
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 12:01 am GMT -5 at 12:01 am
show me some quotes please.
or keep walking.
or perhaps go buy yourself a persian rug.
novocaine
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 12:09 am GMT -5 at 12:09 am
also biggy smalls was relevent what 15 odd years ago?
Also, pick more artist in Ra’s circle why dont you lol.
lets get some testimonials from artist who arent rolling with him.
failing again.
iLLtheClown
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 02:12 am GMT -5 at 2:12 am
I’ll let Talib Kweli say it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt7-Q_N45fk You can find Biggie saying RA The Rugged Man is iller in a 19 year old interview with I believe Source magazine. But I don’t believe that magazine existed in australia. Every Wu affiliate will say it. RA greatest.
novocaine
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 05:15 am GMT -5 at 5:15 am
so you dig up 1 internet interview of ra the rugged mans besty saying how much he loves him and tell me about an alleged interview that you cant produce the proof of, and im supposed to be won over.
EVERYONE is praising tech and strange music’ music and work ethic. not one person who sold out a decade ago and now cant make decent album sales so he classes himself as ‘underground’.
Also, if RA the rugged mans album wasnt album of the year material (Severely debatable, he sounds super generic imo, but lets says he is a talented artist for you sake) then he would be booed out of the game. 20 years to release 2 albums. nice work.
Next question scrubadub.
iLLtheClown
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 01:44 pm GMT -5 at 1:44 pm
You sound like Warlock did when I was dissing escam.
novocaine
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 06:11 pm GMT -5 at 6:11 pm
what because warlock had proof that your a failure?
don’t derail. admit it. you know nothing.
iLLtheClown
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 09:03 pm GMT -5 at 9:03 pm
You still on my nuts. Tech puts in hardwork… that’s the biggest lie next to stainless steel. Tech has great records… bigger lie than Almighty Smack saying he works in porn.
novocaine
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 09:11 pm GMT -5 at 9:11 pm
bwahahahahaha
you can’t let go can you.
man you butthurt. do you have a lock of red spike in your underwear draw you stole when tech cut his hair off too?
face it. you aint got shit.
novocaine
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 09:12 pm GMT -5 at 9:12 pm
dont reply, you’ll lose the game.
iLLtheClown
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 09:20 pm GMT -5 at 9:20 pm
Now you’re just stealing from me. You’re just so unoriginal. Come with something new.
novocaine
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 10:22 pm GMT -5 at 10:22 pm
you should try that too. instead of pulling ‘truth’ from your ass and claiming it as gospel.
you lost the game. and im pretty sure that isnt “YOUR” line. stop claiming shit that aint yours.
iLLtheClown
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 11:10 pm GMT -5 at 11:10 pm
iLLtheClown Comment posted on 7 days ago at 11:23 pm
…Don’t reply back. Said to Slum.
iLLtheClown Comment posted on 2 days ago at 10:05 pm Don’t reply you’ll lose the game.
Fairly certain iLL said it first.
Warlock responds better than you. C’mon you know i’m just putting you in a false sense of security to make you feel big because you have no life. Reply back cause you’re to simple to realize.
novocaine
Comment posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 11:36 pm GMT -5 at 11:36 pm
lol, i like how when your failing you try act like your trolling me.
i merely pointed out my opinion adn you grabbed some scissors and ran like a punk.
you just don’t realise your running around in a little circle, its amusing.
or maybe you wanna tell me how much more you know about underground music.
i reply back back because its quiet at work and prodding you is amusing.
you bite everytime.
iLLtheClown
Comment posted on Wednesday, May 8th, 2013 12:01 am GMT -5 at 12:01 am
So you admit you work as a grocery store bagger. Fascinating. I’m putting a stick with a carrot tied to it out here for you to chase. You’re going through every little obstacle that’s not there. Trying to get the carrot on the stick. Everything you’re saying was said nine months prior. You’re oblivious. I’m not even trolling you.
iLLtheClown
Comment posted on Wednesday, May 8th, 2013 01:11 am GMT -5 at 1:11 am
Tell me about how Legends Never Die sucks because 5000 people bought it. But how Techs last record is better because it sold more. Be careful.
novocaine
Comment posted on Wednesday, May 8th, 2013 10:25 pm GMT -5 at 10:25 pm
ok, so im gunna make this super clear.
attacking me personally jsut makes you look bad. your arguement is flawed completely. i actually dont mind ra the rugged man, i might even buy a copy of legends never die. i was merely proving a point (but the facial hair thing was true, shit looks terrible). and you helped prove it completely.
im sorry it went over your head, but hey we cant all be winners.
i dont have to attack you personally to make my poin. i dont need to stoop that low.
because when i talk, i talk facts.
oh and just so you get it completely, the point i was making is i can talk shit that istn true about someone and pretend its fact.
ra is a good rapper. still doesnt mean he can release 2 albums in 20 years and remain relevant. he will be forgotten in 18 months.
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