Rugged Intellect is the true Renaissance Man of hip-hop. Armed with an endl… Read Full Bio ↴Rugged Intellect is the true Renaissance Man of hip-hop. Armed with an endless barrage of multi-layered flows and a penchant for sinister street narratives, Rugged is the next generation of the MC, mastering the art of crafting timeless records that will resonate in the world of hip-hop music forever. Raising himself out of the gutters of poverty, Rugged Intellect's name is synonymous with breaking barriers and making history at every turn. Co-signed by some of hip-hop's most official MCs and producers, Rugged's potential hints at a level of greatness comparable to some of the lyrical mercenaries he has worked with, from Queens legend Kool G Rap to West Coast icon Ras Kass, to name a few.

Starting off as an upstart MC in his hometown of Montreal, Rugged's story is an inspirational one. Raised in a single parent household, young Rugged's adolescence was filled with eye-opening experiences and life lessons that eventually gave him the knowledge and wisdom he possesses today. Blessed with his signature gravel baritone and an undying thirst to chase his dreams, Rugged's entry into the game was quite unexpected.

After demonstrating his undeniable talents on early solo recordings, Rugged Intellect was signed to Artistic Parole in 2004, a Universal-distributed label founded by former Dreamworks and Priority Records A&R Ryan Urie. Leaving his stomping grounds for the star-studded strips of Hollywood, Rugged recorded an EP which featured production from DJ Muggs of Soul Assassins/Cypress Hill, Memo of the Molemen, and DJ Khalil of Self Scientific, but the project was later dismantled due to professional differences that had Rugged leaving the label in 2005.

Never one to fold in the face of adversity, Rugged persevered and recorded new joints with longtime collaborator Adam Sampler that eventually caught the attention of legendary East Coast producer Domingo, most notably known for crafting such classic hip-hop singles as "The MC" for KRS-One and "Dream Shatterer" for the late Big Punisher. Mentoring Rugged with his years of expertise in the game of rap, Domingo took the young cannon under his wing, giving him the perfect opportunity to develop his craft at an even higher level of musical professionalism.

Striving for perfection, this poetical juggernaut now stands in the frontline of rap lyricism with an astute command of song structure and a knack for crafting classic hooks unlike any of his contemporaries. Drawing comparisons to microphone legends like Rakim and Big Punisher, Rugged excels with an ability to cover any topic with analytical precision unseen since the golden days of hip-hop.

A true entrepreneur in the urban entertainment market, Rugged Intellect is a name you might want to remember as he continues to carve out his own niche in an oversatured market of here-today-gone-tomorrow rap gimmicks. Opting for longevity in favor of overnight success, Rugged is now at the control of his own destiny, handling all business affairs for his new label Renaissance Music, and working in conjunction with Adam Sampler's Expertism Music Group to bring you the type of classic hip-hop consumers have been so eagerly anticipating. It's a new day in the rap game!

Passin Me By
Rugged Intellect Lyrics

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