R.A. the Rugged Man
R.A. the Rugged Man | |
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Website | ratheruggedman |
Richard Andrew Thorburn (born January 10, 1974), better known by his stage name R.A. the Rugged Man, is an American
He was featured on all three of
In addition to his hip hop career, Thorburn has contributed to
Career
1992–2003: Beginnings
In 1992, Thorburn signed with
2004–2012: Die, Rugged Man, Die, film cameos & magazine writing
In 2004, Thorburn released his first album Die, Rugged Man, Die[10] through Brooklyn-based label Nature Sounds. He has cameos in several music videos including Havoc from Mobb Deep's I'm the Boss, Sadat X's Throw the Ball and Masta Killa's Old Man featuring RZA and Ol' Dirty Bastard.
Thorburn's verse on Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story was named by HipHopDX as the "Verse of the Year".[11]
Thorburn wrote a monthly movie column for
A horror film fan, Thorburn has written three screenplays with cult film director Frank Henenlotter and is writer-producer of the 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.[12]
2013–present: Legends Never Die and All My Heroes Are Dead
Thorburn's second studio album
The third studio album by Thorburn, All My Heroes Are Dead, was released on April 17, 2020 and debuted #22 on the US Billboard Top Current Album Sales and #3 on the UK R&B Albums. It features artists like Ghostface Killah, Eamon, Atmosphere, Ice-T, Vinnie Paz, Brand Nubian, Chino XL, M.O.P. and Onyx.[15]
On a December 2021 podcast for political commentator Tim Pool, Thorburn nearly got into an altercation with Pool on air after Pool called him a "racist prick". Thorburn said that Pool was white and claimed Pool had never experienced racism, and he also accused Pool of promoting Derek Chauvin, and making excuses for the men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery, saying to Pool that "lives have been lost by police, and you were there bootlicking the fucking cops."[16]
Personal life
Thorburn's father, Staff Sgt. John A. Thorburn, was a Vietnam veteran. His brother Maxx was born disabled and blind, eventually dying at the age of 10. Thorburn's sister, Dee Ann, 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. John A. Thorburn died of cancer on January 7, 2010.[17] Thorburn is of German, Scottish and Sicilian descent.[18]
Thorburn has two children: Ella (born in 2016) and John A. Thorburn (born in 2017).
Discography
- Studio albums
- 2004: Die, Rugged Man, Die
- 2013: Legends Never Die
- 2020: All My Heroes Are Dead
- Compilation albums
- 2009: Legendary Classics Vol 1
Filmography
Film | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Show | Role | Notes |
2008 | Three Thug Mice | Vic | (Short) |
2008 | Bad Biology | Ex-Boyfriend (as R.A. the Rugged Man) | Also writer and producer |
2009 | Damnation | Film Crew Guy #1 | (Short) |
2013 | Skid Row | John |
References
- ^ "R.A. The Rugged Man Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ "R.A. The Rugged Man age, hometown, biography".
- ^ R.A. the Rugged Man. Nature-sounds.net. Retrieved on May 30, 2011.
- ^ Ben Westhoff (November 10, 2009). "R.A. the Rugged Man Abides". Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ Above Ground Magazine: R.A. The Rugged Man Releases Video Based On Experience With Jive Records
- ^ Jeremiah. "R.A. The Rugged Man: The People's Champ [prod by Apathy] - KevinNottingham.com". KevinNottingham.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ a b It's A Beautiful Thing Being R.A. the Rugged Man Archived January 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Xxlmag.Com. Retrieved on May 30, 2011.
- ^ Hakes, Tyler (March 3, 2011). "R.A. The Rugged Man Releases Video Based On Experience With Jive Records". aboveGround Media. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
- ^ R.A. the Rugged Man Abides – Page 1 – Music – New York. Village Voice (November 10, 2009). Retrieved on 2011-05-30.
- ^ 365 Albums a Year » Year 1, Day 171: R.A. The Rugged Man – Die, Rugged Man, Die (2004) Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. (April 6, 2010). Retrieved on 2011-05-30.
- ^ Hale, Andreas. (January 1, 2007) 2006 HipHopDX Awards | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop. HipHop DX. Retrieved on 2011-05-30.
- ^ R.A. The Rugged Man Talks New Film And Music Projects. (August 31, 2009). Retrieved on 2013-04-17.
- ^ "OK-Tho.com's Top 20 Albums Of 2013" http://www.ok-tho.com/2014/01/top-of-year-albums-of-2013.html
- ^ "LL Cool J Scores 13th Top 10 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "R.A. the Rugged Man - All My Heroes Are Dead". musicmeter. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- ^ Goforth, Claire (December 17, 2021). "Tim Pool called a hip-hop artist a 'racist prick' and it almost came to blows". The Daily Dot.
- ^ Hip Hop Underground bio on R.A. the Rugged Man describing the death of is family members
- ^ HipHopDX (October 18, 2013). "R.A. The Rugged Man Says Justin Timberlake Is "Not The Epitome Of Talent"". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 9, 2015.