Stories (2002) and One Man Band Man (2007) – Swizz started his own label Full Surface in conjunction with Ruff Ryders in 2001 and was most notably responsible for signing Philly MC Cassidy and Atlanta rapper Yung Wun. Releasing two solo albums – Swizz Beatz Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Going on to create smash hits for Noreaga (‘Banned From T.V’) and Jay Z (‘Money, Cash, Hoes’), the teenage sensation’s use of Korg Trinity and Triton keyboards to accentuate the performance aspect of his music made him individual in a genre where sampling was king. Nephew to Dee, Wah and Chivon, Swizz’s first major beat came when he sold the instrumental for ‘Ruff Ryders’ Anthem’ to DMX, which not only catapulted X’s career to great heights but also his own. held it down, the main face of the label’s production team was Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean. Recruiting a team of rappers, singers, and producers, the litter was born and the dogs were set loose.īehind every successful crew/label is a group of in-house producers with a signature sound that differentiates them from everyone else. It was following DMX’s mega-success as a multi-platinum selling artist for Def Jam Records that the Double R started their own label imprint through Interscope Records. Making up the team’s leadership trinity, siblings Chivon Dean, Joaquin “Waah” Dean, and Darrin “Dee” Dean managed rappers The LOX while signed to Bad Boy and upcoming spitter DMX. The Ruff Ryders earned their place at the table of these debates.įounded in 1988, year’s before their name lived in the mouths of rap fans the world over, Ruff Ryders Entertainment actually started out as a management company.

Some Hip-Hop fans would even go as far as to create a “fantasy team” based upon the different members of various squads. While each would have their chance to shine individually, as a crew they were stronger, instigating debates on which crew was the best, which member was better lyrically, and who could take on who crew to crew.

Each with a headlining artist, these talented groups ran in packs like wolves.

During an era where rap crews ran Hip-Hop, the likes of the Wu-Tang Clan, Death Row Records, Native Tongues, and Bad Boy Records owned the airwaves.

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