And now, what you've all been waiting for, a question about RA the Rugged Man

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Just was listening to the first Soundbombing compilation and he certainly has something - his style is pretty memorable in a strong lineup. But what has RA done since? Why has he not attained wider fame and fortune? Or were "Flipside" and "Stanley Kubrik" flukes?

As a Southern Hemisphere person I shall now turn in for the night - but I expect tha switchboard to be jammed when I log back on in the morning!

plebian plebs (plebian), Friday, 2 January 2004 10:39 (twenty years ago) link

Just one more thought before I tucks me in - RA's flow seems unplanned almost, but when you pay close attention his splatterings are pretty structured, more so than ODB, who is kinda similar in some ways. And yet, despite this and the fact he appears pretty sexist &etc, he seems naive, almost innocent. Hard to describe, but I get a kick out of these songs.

plebian plebs (plebian), Friday, 2 January 2004 10:43 (twenty years ago) link

He's released about...4 singles on Eastern Conference (you can find them on the Eastern Conference 1, 2 and 3 compilations) so maybe 8 other tracks total. He releases stuff with people like High n Mighty, Cage, the Weathermen, Tame One...
Unforunately, he was one of the ones who fell from the hip hop eye when Rawkus fell, along with Shabaam Sahdeeq, Mad Skillz, Wordsworth...
So: no album yet (or ever).

paulhw (paulhw), Friday, 2 January 2004 21:15 (twenty years ago) link

He writes a GREAT column for Mass Appeal magazine. He also asked the single greatest interview question of all time a couple issues ago, when he talked to some boxer I forget the name of: "Does Oscar de la Hoya have a vagina? He looks like he does."

M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 2 January 2004 21:36 (twenty years ago) link

James Toney

miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 2 January 2004 22:49 (twenty years ago) link

yes! thank you

M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 2 January 2004 22:57 (twenty years ago) link

Toney's insane. His post-Holyfield ring interview with Larry Merchant was the best thing on TV last year.

miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 2 January 2004 22:59 (twenty years ago) link

milo, have you read that RA interview?

M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 2 January 2004 23:01 (twenty years ago) link

See how out of touch I am? Rawkus fell?? Shame.

It looks like it might be hard to get that column online, but I'm starting to think he might be a comic genius (cf Groucho Marx interviewing professional wrestlers). Thanks Paulhw - might do me a spot of downloadin'.

plebian plebs (plebian), Friday, 2 January 2004 23:05 (twenty years ago) link

Yeah, I didn't know it was RA, though.

http://www.massappealmag.com/23/toney.jpg

miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 2 January 2004 23:05 (twenty years ago) link

one year passes...
Man, I like RA - his flow is pretty tight, and I like his voice. Anybody heard the album yet??

God's Buddy, Monday, 10 October 2005 03:10 (eighteen years ago) link

it's a shame this thread didn't happen when Ethan was still a major presence on the board, he'd have a lot to say.

I love R.A.'s piece for Vibe, especially when he has rappers review trailers for upcoming summer blockbusters.

Al (sitcom), Monday, 10 October 2005 17:07 (eighteen years ago) link

he may have topped the boxer interview with the damon dash movie interview

strng hlkngtn: what does it mean? (dubplatestyle), Monday, 10 October 2005 17:09 (eighteen years ago) link

Heh. That Dame Dash thing was hilarious.

I like him.

His very old stuff from '93 like "every record label sucks dick" is shitty (although "cunt renaissance" with Biggie is ace) but his newer stuff is, for the most part, good.

At least he is a total piece of demented trash, isn't afraid to knock people out and has a sense of humor about his schtick, whereas someone like Cage is just a fat dusthead turned Texas Is The Reason member reciting Billy Corgan's livejournal who got a bottle to the face at his own show.

Other good tracks of his not mentioned in this thread are "smithhaven mall", the one with Akinyele "what the fuck?", "on the block", "midnight thud", "black and white" and the "how low" track where he rhymes over "trans-europe express". That "chains" track was also fresh, but Masta Killa and Killah Priest both suck.

Seen him live a few times. He always ends up stripping down to his boxers and the last time i saw him a few months back he had skid marks over the back of them.

I'd like to hear him and Kool G. Rap on a track together.

Ellis, Monday, 10 October 2005 17:29 (eighteen years ago) link

Cage quotes Texas is the Reason??? BWAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!! True colors, shining through. How lame.

His first few 12" sare still pretty killer though..

Good Buddy, Monday, 10 October 2005 19:44 (eighteen years ago) link

one year passes...

That "chains" track was also fresh, but Masta Killa and Killah Priest both suck.

stfu

and what, Friday, 24 August 2007 16:12 (sixteen years ago) link

btw "super" is top 10 of 07 material

and what, Friday, 24 August 2007 16:13 (sixteen years ago) link

it's a shame this thread didn't happen when Ethan was still a major presence on the board, he'd have a lot to say.

-- Al (sitcom), Monday, 10 October 2005 17:07 (1 year ago) Bookmark Link

Dom Passantino, Friday, 24 August 2007 16:14 (sixteen years ago) link

if youre trying to make me jealous of aaron "dr yacub" lacrate its not working

and what, Friday, 24 August 2007 16:15 (sixteen years ago) link

i heard this guy got kicked of def jam for pissing on a prostitute onstage during his record release party

bell_labs, Friday, 24 August 2007 16:19 (sixteen years ago) link

He's just recorded a track with Stig the Homeless Microphonist. lol uk rap.

Dom Passantino, Friday, 24 August 2007 16:22 (sixteen years ago) link

he pissed on a $100k mixing board

and what, Friday, 24 August 2007 16:25 (sixteen years ago) link

one year passes...

"that chains track" is probably top 40 rap joints of the decade

The boy with the Arab money (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Thursday, 8 January 2009 01:05 (fifteen years ago) link

eleven years pass...

still love this song to death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGiwITaso_g

... that's Traore! (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 28 January 2020 04:48 (four years ago) link

yeah I still bump that from time to time

symsymsym, Tuesday, 28 January 2020 08:10 (four years ago) link

The girl who does the hook makes black metal now!

The Mandymoorian (Whiney G. Weingarten), Tuesday, 28 January 2020 08:15 (four years ago) link

Myrkur!

... that's Traore! (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 28 January 2020 10:47 (four years ago) link


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