R.A. the Rugged Man
Richard Andrew Thorburn (born January 10, 1974), better known by his stage name R.A. the Rugged Man, is an American underground hip-hop artist from Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.
In 1992, at the age of 18, Thorburn signed with Jive Records, then in the mid-1990s signed with Priority Records/EMI. His contract was later absorbed by Capitol Records but he began recording independently in the early 2000s. He has worked with MC's such as The Notorious B. Read Full BioRichard Andrew Thorburn (born January 10, 1974), better known by his stage name R.A. the Rugged Man, is an American underground hip-hop artist from Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.
In 1992, at the age of 18, Thorburn signed with Jive Records, then in the mid-1990s signed with Priority Records/EMI. His contract was later absorbed by Capitol Records but he began recording independently in the early 2000s. He has worked with MC's such as The Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep, Chuck D of Public Enemy, Jedi Mind Tricks, Tech N9ne, Hopsin, Talib Kweli, Masta Ace, Kool G Rap, Wu-Tang Clan, Rakim, Killah Priest, and producers Trackmasters, Erick Sermon, DJ Quik, Buckwild, Alchemist, and Ayatollah. He was featured on all three of Rawkus’s Soundbombing albums, as well as the platinum-selling WWF Aggression album, performing the theme song for Chris Jericho. In Ego Trip Vol. 1, Issue 3, the Notorious B.I.G. was quoted as saying, "I thought I was the illest," when referring to Thorburn He is closely associated to the Wu-Tang Clan and its various associates.
In 2004 he released the album Die, Rugged Man, Die on Brooklyn based label Nature Sounds. Thorburn has cameos in several music videos including Havoc from Mobb Deep's I'm the Boss, Sadat X's Throw the Ball and Old Man featuring Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, Masta Killa and Ol' Dirty Bastard in one of ODB's final video appearances.
The October 2006 issue of The Source featured Thorburn's verse on Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story as its "Hip-Hop Quotable" of the month and HipHopDX named it as the "Verse of the Year" AllHipHop.com states that "This record will be remembered most for R.A.'s robotic flow recounting his own father's story of war while absolutely murdering the beat." Rolling Stone Magazine recently compared Thorburn's rap flow to that of a blue-eyed Biggie Smalls. When reviewing his song "On the Block", Vibe Magazine said, "I love this song. It give me goosebumps. It's very inventive."
In addition to his hip hop career, Thorburn wrote a monthly movie column for Mass Appeal Magazine, was a contributor to The Ego Trip Book of Rap Lists (St. Martin's Press) and Ego Trip's Big Book of Racism (HarperCollins), and has written numerous articles for other magazines including Vibe, King, Complex, Rides, XXL and The Source.
A horror film fan, Thorburn has written three screenplays with cult film director Frank Henenlotter and is writer-producer of a new Henenlotter film, Bad Biology. The film has an original score by Josh Glazer (J. Glaze) with additional production by Prince Paul, and cameos by Playboy model Jelena Jensen and Penthouse Pet Krista Ayne. Thorburn is working on his directorial debut, a film based on his family, God Take, God Give.
Thorburn's latest album Legends Never Die was released on April 30, 2013. Guest appearances include Brother Ali, Masta Ace, Tech N9ne, Talib Kweli, Hopsin, and Krizz Kaliko. His first single of the album was 'The Peoples Champ'. The second single was "Learn Truth' Feat. Talib Kweli.
Richard Andrew is Thorburn's middle name. His first name has never been disclosed.
Thorburn's father, Staff Sgt. John A. Thorburn, was a Vietnam veteran affected by Agent Orange. Thorburn's family was significantly affected by the potent chemical. His brother Maxx was born handicapped and blind, eventually dying at the age of 10. Thorburn's sister, Dee Ann, was born without the ability to walk or speak. She died in 2007 at the age of 26. Thorburn tells his father's story in "Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story," from the Jedi Mind Tricks album Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell (which was also re-released on the compilation Legendary Classics vol. 1).
John A. Thorburn died 7 January 2010 from cancer. Thorburn said that his father was truly happy within his last year of life, due to his mindset that he could plan for his death.
He is of German descent on his mother's side.
In 1992, at the age of 18, Thorburn signed with Jive Records, then in the mid-1990s signed with Priority Records/EMI. His contract was later absorbed by Capitol Records but he began recording independently in the early 2000s. He has worked with MC's such as The Notorious B. Read Full BioRichard Andrew Thorburn (born January 10, 1974), better known by his stage name R.A. the Rugged Man, is an American underground hip-hop artist from Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.
In 1992, at the age of 18, Thorburn signed with Jive Records, then in the mid-1990s signed with Priority Records/EMI. His contract was later absorbed by Capitol Records but he began recording independently in the early 2000s. He has worked with MC's such as The Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep, Chuck D of Public Enemy, Jedi Mind Tricks, Tech N9ne, Hopsin, Talib Kweli, Masta Ace, Kool G Rap, Wu-Tang Clan, Rakim, Killah Priest, and producers Trackmasters, Erick Sermon, DJ Quik, Buckwild, Alchemist, and Ayatollah. He was featured on all three of Rawkus’s Soundbombing albums, as well as the platinum-selling WWF Aggression album, performing the theme song for Chris Jericho. In Ego Trip Vol. 1, Issue 3, the Notorious B.I.G. was quoted as saying, "I thought I was the illest," when referring to Thorburn He is closely associated to the Wu-Tang Clan and its various associates.
In 2004 he released the album Die, Rugged Man, Die on Brooklyn based label Nature Sounds. Thorburn has cameos in several music videos including Havoc from Mobb Deep's I'm the Boss, Sadat X's Throw the Ball and Old Man featuring Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, Masta Killa and Ol' Dirty Bastard in one of ODB's final video appearances.
The October 2006 issue of The Source featured Thorburn's verse on Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story as its "Hip-Hop Quotable" of the month and HipHopDX named it as the "Verse of the Year" AllHipHop.com states that "This record will be remembered most for R.A.'s robotic flow recounting his own father's story of war while absolutely murdering the beat." Rolling Stone Magazine recently compared Thorburn's rap flow to that of a blue-eyed Biggie Smalls. When reviewing his song "On the Block", Vibe Magazine said, "I love this song. It give me goosebumps. It's very inventive."
In addition to his hip hop career, Thorburn wrote a monthly movie column for Mass Appeal Magazine, was a contributor to The Ego Trip Book of Rap Lists (St. Martin's Press) and Ego Trip's Big Book of Racism (HarperCollins), and has written numerous articles for other magazines including Vibe, King, Complex, Rides, XXL and The Source.
A horror film fan, Thorburn has written three screenplays with cult film director Frank Henenlotter and is writer-producer of a new Henenlotter film, Bad Biology. The film has an original score by Josh Glazer (J. Glaze) with additional production by Prince Paul, and cameos by Playboy model Jelena Jensen and Penthouse Pet Krista Ayne. Thorburn is working on his directorial debut, a film based on his family, God Take, God Give.
Thorburn's latest album Legends Never Die was released on April 30, 2013. Guest appearances include Brother Ali, Masta Ace, Tech N9ne, Talib Kweli, Hopsin, and Krizz Kaliko. His first single of the album was 'The Peoples Champ'. The second single was "Learn Truth' Feat. Talib Kweli.
Richard Andrew is Thorburn's middle name. His first name has never been disclosed.
Thorburn's father, Staff Sgt. John A. Thorburn, was a Vietnam veteran affected by Agent Orange. Thorburn's family was significantly affected by the potent chemical. His brother Maxx was born handicapped and blind, eventually dying at the age of 10. Thorburn's sister, Dee Ann, was born without the ability to walk or speak. She died in 2007 at the age of 26. Thorburn tells his father's story in "Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story," from the Jedi Mind Tricks album Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell (which was also re-released on the compilation Legendary Classics vol. 1).
John A. Thorburn died 7 January 2010 from cancer. Thorburn said that his father was truly happy within his last year of life, due to his mindset that he could plan for his death.
He is of German descent on his mother's side.
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Lessons
R.A. the Rugged Man Lyrics
"R-A what's the lesson for today Rugged Man" - Sadat X
"I am the legendary..R-A" - Sadat X
[Verse 1]
Yo aiiyo people wonderin' where the fuck I been
At the VIP section they ain't lettin' me in
They say; maybe if you had Dr. Dre or Timbaland
They say; a white boy need a black boy to win
Uhh Bubba Sparxx did it and so did Slim
Just Blaze is hot now why don't you get with him
I watch mad rappers bite my shit and blow up
And make millions of what I created, that's tough luck
I first started gettin' coverage around the same time
Steve Stout used to carry kid and placed luggage
I seen rappers turned from sex symbols in hard throbs
To bein forgotten now they out lookin' for jobs
I seen EPMD break up
I seen my little brother Max fall asleep and he ain't never wake up
So when I rhyme listen, seriously
When I spit I'm givin' you the truth clearly who I really be
It's an audio version of reality TV
I had deals from Russell Simmonds to Master P
Even five year old white girls be rappin' today
On the playground like 'go shorty it's ya birthday' (Go, go, go..)
"Here's a little story I got ta tell"
"I am the legendary"
"R-A" "Rugged Man"
[Verse 2]
Yo yo yo I seen good days sun rays church sundays
Made love made war been rich been poor
Lost friends lost hoods lost my dough
Seen beef between Bad Boy and Death Row
I seen deceased take the life for my sisters kid
Six months on the Earth is what he had to live
I seen Biggie Big L Big Pun pass away
Buffy from the Fat Boys, Jam Master Jay
I mumple 'fore they blew up with Mystikal and Jay-Z
The Neptunes came to see me at D & D
I knew this chick named Norah a lounge singer
A year later she a six Grammy award winner
I seen flatliners I seen cannabisses
I seen Lil Zane see I seen mad misses
You ran through that ten percent disses
I seen A & R's get fired for takin' pisses
Stop whinin' and bitchin' nobody listens
Who else riskin' they career they stick to be indifferent
Switchin' the tradition stickin' to this shit they really livin'
I don't care what's hittin
Listen this is my fuckin' life that I'm spittin'
"Here's a little story I got ta tell"
"I am the legendary"
"R-A" "Rugged Man"
[Verse 3]
I made peace with myself now how bout that
I hated life I wanted to die a few years back
I was mentally ill it's hard to come back from that
But I got through it now I got my sanity back
Y'all are like H-B-O fighters get the money and fame
Get beat up like Klitschko and Sugar Shane
Or get beat like Vernon Forrest or Prince Naseem
And you all turn pussy when you get that green
I got love for Havoc from Mobb Deep
When I was broke sleepin' in the street
He hooked me up with a free beat
Alchemist you still my little buddy
Althought you stole that Royce the 5"9 +The King+ beat from me
I ain't down to sign autographs and shake ya hands
I don't want trendy ass followers as fans
I don't wanna sell records, I don't wanna be big
I don't want MTV runnin' up in my crib
I don't wanna be light in the music biz
I don't want fans that don't know who G Rap is
"Here's a little story I got ta tell"
"I am the legendary"
"R-A" "Rugged Man"
"Here's a little story I got ta tell"
"I am the legendary"
"R-A" "Rugged Man"
"what's the lesson for today Rugged Man"
Contributed by Christian C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Mark Citarella
I could just imagine him calling up “yeah I need a taxi “ “what’s your destination sir?” “Nowhere I just need you to tie me up in the trunk for a few minutes in my draws”
Ray Woodfin
RA the rugged man is awesome for real
BluberryHazeSmoke
i dont want fans that dont know who G rap is
Teezy Apps
2nd best line here (nice track but not so great writing - like beef btwn badboy / death row.. meh)
La Smiley
Ahh coming back to this as a grown ass man, goddamn I had great taste in music as a young fella
Evz
so many bars in here, true lyrical titan.
Retarco
Man, R.A. always has the goofiest music videos and I can't stop myself from smiling like an idiot when I watch them.
Thekitchenstablet Tablet
Sadat x and ra on track you know thats legendary
xxGALACTIKWARxx
Sadat x saying Ra is legend is legendary knightege like as if a new cat gets a track from Preme
That one Tigerdeer
Str8 <3 thiz Track!!!!