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.
Stanley Kubrick
R.A. the Rugged Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Boom-ba-doom, yo, feel that bassline cat
Yo, yo, reverb
Boom-ba-doom, yo, feel that bassline cat
Yo, yo, reverb
Boom-ba-doom, yo, feel that bassline cat
Reverb, boom-ba-doom, yo, feel that bassline cat
Reverb, boom-ba-doom, yo, feel that bassline cat
Yo, yo, reverb
Boom-ba-doom, yo, feel that bassline cat
Yo, yo that's some, that's some like, Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
The track bouncy, no-body, get more rowdy
Than Suffolk County, peace to Crackhead Crowley
Honky Thomas, Keb McGlocklin the whole crew
Cab Morada, what you gon' do we roll through
Fuck that, Big Dirt, the midget face drop 'em
Bring 'em to the Port Jeff house stayed on top 'em
Nobody move this, I don't give a fuck, we untouched
Strictly lust for papers and live life to bust nuts
We're God killers, let's be realistic;
We probably gon' be punished we fuckin' bitches by the 100's
Why me? want to fight me? Try me
Why these people don't know me don't like me
Society, they want to see me dead I stick out
You see me in the public, I probably pull my dick out
Smack the fuck out of women, see me knock your bitch out
Do somethin' tough guy, who the fuck want to die?
Clash of the Titans, broken bottles, bar fight
You want to battle I'ma freestyle you can start writin'
I can do that, tip the bouncers, make sure we get
Our gats in the club just in case the action
Everybody want it, try to take my title
Let's see, left your chest messy, test me
Stanley Kubrick, don't stress me
R.A. the Rugged Man, remember the name Rugged Man!
Ride with us (Rug why'know the bitch beater)
Ride with us (Suffolk County, Long Island)
Ride with us (Dead broke black people)
Ride with us (Dead broke white people)
Ride with us (My man Smoothe Da Hustler)
Ride with us (Rest in peace Jason Edmands)
Ride with us (Gordon Heights, ghostland)
Ride with us
Aiyyo the are-to-da, A-to-da, Rugged..
Now think about this, who diss us? Suffolk County
Cops frisk us, they handcuffs never fit us
Our wrists turn purple, that's why we act vicious
Plus if we die tomorrow, won't nobody miss us
Get half a page in The Source maybe, if that
It's a whole town of people actin shady, where I live at
We spit lyrically releasin', you don't stop
Ain't nobody ceasin' til your heartbeat stop beatin', bring it
You know where to find me; actin like you lookin' for me
You saw me you walked right by me
A true test, the Rugged Man, the truest
The most violent, in the U.S., we see you stressed
Now take it easy, Fat Man greasy, sloppy
Peace to Khadafi, I'ma do this
They tried to stop me, way back in nine-four
You look into my future, I'ma probably die for it
We proud to be the lowest, low life losers
We flip your car over like Long Island steroid abusers
When they 'roid ragin', white boy caning
Let me do some explain, misbehaving
Rugged Man, hairy fat slob, unshaven
The Ten Commandments, we constantly disobeyin'
Ride with us (Dirty crusty asses)
Ride with us (The whole Infamous Mobb)
Ride with us (My main man Akinyele)
Ride with us (The whole white trash nation)
Ride with us (All the Stony Brook kids)
Ride with us (All the Port Jeff kids)
Ride with us (My man Ev Casuchi)
Ride with us (Capital of Crime Lords)
Ride with us (Miguel the cop in the house)
Ride with us (Sho' nuff, Dave Greenberg)
Ride with us (All the starvin artists)
Ride with us (All the starvin artists)
Ride with us (All the starvin artists)
Ride with us (Rugged)
The song "Stanley Kubrick" by R.A. the Rugged Man is a tribute to the legendary filmmaker, Stanley Kubrick. The opening bars of the song repeat the line "yo, yo, reverb, boom-ba-doom, yo, feel that bassline cat", which sets a playful tone before the song turns to rap. The lyrics of the song talk about R.A. the Rugged Man's life and crew, as well as his adversaries, but they are tied together by references to Stanley Kubrick's films. The use of these references is interesting because Kubrick's films are often considered enigmatic and open to interpretation, and the lyrics of the song add another layer of meaning to them.
The song also touches on themes of rebellion, violence, and societal rejection, which are all common in Kubrick's films. R.A. the Rugged Man raps about the hardships he and his crew face as "dead broke black people" and "dead broke white people", and how they are perceived as outcasts by society. The references to Kubrick's films are used to highlight the idea that these themes of societal rejection and rebellion are universal and timeless, and that Kubrick's body of work speaks to something deeper in human nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, yo, reverb
The song starts with the rapper calling for reverb sound effect.
Boom-ba-doom, yo, feel that bassline cat
The rapper wants the listener to feel the bassline of the song.
Yo, yo that's some, that's some like, Stanley Kubrick
Here the rapper compares the song and the emotions it incites to the work of the famous director Stanley Kubrick.
The track bouncy, no-body, get more rowdy
The track is lively and makes people excited and rowdy.
Than Suffolk County, peace to Crackhead Crowley
The rowdiness and liveliness of the track is higher than that of Suffolk County. The rapper shows respect to Crackhead Crowley in this line.
Honky Thomas, Keb McGlocklin the whole crew
The rapper mentions the names of his friends, Honky Thomas, and Keb McGlocklin, and the whole crew that he rolls with.
Cab Morada, what you gon' do we roll through
Cab Morada is another member of the crew; the rapper asks what will they do as they go through the neighborhood.
Fuck that, Big Dirt, the midget face drop 'em
The rapper is aggressive and dismissive of Big Dirt, and he is eager to confront him.
Bring 'em to the Port Jeff house stayed on top 'em
Port Jeff house is the rapper's neighborhood, and he is confident that they will win any fight they have there.
Nobody move this, I don't give a fuck, we untouched
The rapper is feeling untouchable and expects no one to challenge him and his crew.
Strictly lust for papers and live life to bust nuts
The rapper and the crew are focused on making money and enjoying their lives.
We're God killers, let's be realistic;
The rapper is arrogant and compares himself and his crew to gods.
We probably gon' be punished we fuckin' bitches by the 100's
The rapper is aware of the potential consequences of their actions and behavior.
Why me? want to fight me? Try me
The rapper is asking who wants to challenge him.
Why these people don't know me don't like me
The rapper is wondering why strangers dislike him and his crew.
Society, they want to see me dead I stick out
The rapper believes that society wants him dead because he stands out from the norm.
You see me in the public, I probably pull my dick out
The rapper does outrageous things to draw attention to himself.
Smack the fuck out of women, see me knock your bitch out
The rapper performs violent acts against women, and he challenges anyone who challenges him to a fight.
Do somethin' tough guy, who the fuck want to die?
The rapper is daring anyone to confront him and his crew because they are not afraid to fight, and they are willing to kill.
Clash of the Titans, broken bottles, bar fight
The rapper is describing a dangerous and violent scenario with broken bottles in a bar fight.
You want to battle I'ma freestyle you can start writin'
The rapper is confident in his rap skills and is daring anyone to challenge him in a battle.
I can do that, tip the bouncers, make sure we get
The rapper is explaining how he cheats and bribes the bouncers in the club to let him carry weapons.
Our gats in the club just in case the action
He carries weapons to prepare for a dangerous situation.
Everybody want it, try to take my title
The rapper knows that many people want what he has achieved.
Let's see, left your chest messy, test me
The rapper is confident in his fighting skills, and he dares anyone to challenge him.
Stanley Kubrick, don't stress me
The reference to Stanley Kubrick is repeated in this line to remind the listener of the comparison made earlier in the song. The rapper is saying that nothing stresses him out, not even comparisons to a renowned genius like Stanely Kubrick.
R.A. the Rugged Man, remember the name Rugged Man!
The rapper is confident in his abilities, and he wants everyone to remember his name.
Ride with us (Rug why'know the bitch beater)
This line is a call for people to join his crew and ride with them. There's a reference to Rug, who the rapper thinks is known as a womanizer.
Aiyyo the are-to-da, A-to-da, Rugged..
This line is a shoutout to the artist, himself, R.A. The rapper's full name is R.A. Thorburn.
Now think about this, who diss us? Suffolk County
The rapper is daring anyone from Suffolk County to challenge him, and he's wondering who would be brave enough to take him on.
Cops frisk us, they handcuffs never fit us
The rapper is irritated by racial profiling by the police department - when they pat them down, they can't find anything on them.
Our wrists turn purple, that's why we act vicious
The rapper is saying that the police's excessive force during the pat-down makes their wrists turn purple, which makes him feel angry and violent.
Plus if we die tomorrow, won't nobody miss us
The rapper doesn't believe anyone will mourn them if they die.
Get half a page in The Source maybe, if that
The Source is a hip-hop magazine - this line means that they might only get a small mention in the magazine if they die.
It's a whole town of people actin shady, where I live at
The rapper is living in a dangerous town with a lot of unsavory characters.
We spit lyrically releasin', you don't stop
The rapper prides himself on his lyrical ability; they keep on rapping.
Ain't nobody ceasin' til your heartbeat stop beatin', bring it
The rapper is confident in his abilities to keep rapping until his opponent, or he, dies.
You know where to find me; actin like you lookin' for me
The rapper is challenging his adversaries, telling them exactly where they can find him.
You saw me you walked right by me
The rapper is saying that people are too scared to confront them.
A true test, the Rugged Man, the truest
The rapper sees himself as the ultimate test of skill for other rappers.
The most violent, in the U.S., we see you stressed
The rapper boasts about being the most violent person in the United States, and he notices people are intimidated by him.
Now take it easy, Fat Man greasy, sloppy
This line is a playful reference to R.A.'s physical appearance - he has a heavyset, unshaven, body type.
Peace to Khadafi, I'ma do this
This line is a shoutout to the rapper Khadafi, and he uses his memory as inspiration to keep going.
They tried to stop me, way back in nine-four
The rapper remembers when he first started rapping and people tried to stop him.
You look into my future, I'ma probably die for it
The rapper is aware of the risks involved in his lifestyle and career.
We proud to be the lowest, low life losers
The rapper takes pride in his humble beginnings and doesn't care what others think of him.
We flip your car over like Long Island steroid abusers
The rapper is using hyperbole to describe the strength and power of him and his crew.
When they 'roid ragin', white boy caning
This line is a derogatory reference to white people that use steroids.
Let me do some explain, misbehaving
The rapper is saying that he will explain why they misbehave.
Rugged Man, hairy fat slob, unshaven
The rapper is again making reference to his physical appearance, self-deprecatingly.
The Ten Commandments, we constantly disobeyin'
This line is a metaphor for their lives - they break rules and laws constantly.
Ride with us (Dirty crusty asses)
This line is a call for people to join him and his crew, even though they don't have much.
Ride with us (The whole Infamous Mobb)
The Infamous Mobb was a hip-hop group - the rapper is calling for the group and its members to join him and his crew.
Ride with us (My main man Akinyele)
Akinyele is a rapper - the rapper is calling on him and his fans to join him and his crew.
Ride with us (The whole white trash nation)
The rapper is calling on all poor white people to join him and his crew.
Ride with us (All the Stony Brook kids)
The rapper is calling on college students at Stony Brook University to join him and his crew.
Ride with us (All the Port Jeff kids)
The rapper is calling on all kids who grew up in Port Jefferson to join him and his crew.
Ride with us (My man Ev Casuchi)
This line is a shoutout to Ev Casuchi, a friend of the rapper.
Ride with us (Capital of Crime Lords)
The rapper is calling on all criminals to join him and his crew as they ride through the capital city.
Ride with us (Miguel the cop in the house)
The gangster rapper is even willing to let a cop join them on their journey.
Ride with us (Sho' nuff, Dave Greenberg)
The rapper references Dave Greenberg, who is most likely a friend, and he invites him along.
Ride with us (All the starvin artists)
The rapper calls on starving artists to join him and his crew to get a taste of the gangsta lifestyle.
Ride with us (Rugged)
The song ends with a final invitation to join him, R.A. the Rugged Man, and his crew.
Lyrics © NAVY YARD MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ted Francis
I’ve seen him on VLAD but this is the first song of his I’ve ever heard and I’m IMPRESSED. The beat is crazy, everything goes together perfectly on this song.
Ballsdeep
He's got way better songs or check out him and Vinnie Paz in Jedi mind tricks, they were a rap duo.
I was just listening to a song called uncommon valor and a comment brought me to this song, which I've never heard.
It's good but it's definitely not 1 of his best
BareGrillsMcSnaggleTooth
One of the banginist joints on SOUND BOMBING 2.....a milestone album with MANY classics
Leidenspfad
Kubrick was one of the best filmmakers, ever! And RA is one if the best Rappers of all time!
delirious44
"We flip your car over like Long Island steroid abusers" He'll never sell bucket loads of records , because he won't comprimise his style and what hes all about , but his bars VOICE AND DELIVERY are SSSICK GREAT UNDAGROUND EMCEE
siffchopf22
my neighbours listen to this all the time, wether they like it or not!!!!
3lancer Officialmaybe
Why can't all his beats be this good.
Bort Sampson
Classics never die.
Ila S.
this beat is crazy.... i love it
elsunn
yoooo!! good looks on this post!! I was in the studio when he recorded this, Rock n Reel in Northport. Dave Greenberg was the engineer, I was an intern at the time. He shouts me out at the end, "Sho-nuf" and "Dave Greenberg" Ride w/Us!!! R.A. definitely underrated, and a beast on the mic!!! One Love, Peace