Ruffneck (song)
"Ruffneck" | ||||
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Single by MC Lyte | ||||
from the album Ain't No Other | ||||
B-side | "Brooklyn" | |||
Released | May 27, 1993 | |||
Recorded | 1992 | |||
Genre |
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Length | 3:57 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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MC Lyte singles chronology | ||||
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Cover in cassette format | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Ruffneck" on YouTube |
"Ruffneck" is a hip hop song recorded by American rapper MC Lyte. It was published on May 27, 1993 by First Priority Music and Atlantic Street, as the lead single from her fourth studio album, Ain't No Other (1993). The song was produced by Aqil Davidson (of Wreckx-n-Effect) with Walter "Mucho" Scott, who along with Lyte have songwriting credits.[2]
The song peaked at No. 35 on the
With this single Lyte also received her first
In 2011 it was included on XXL's "250 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of the 90s" list.[9] In April 2013, the song was included No. 17 on Complex's "The 50 Best Rap Songs by Women" list.[10] "Ruffneck" was listed in the Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era (2005) by Bruce Pollock.[11]
Conception and composition
The song contains a much more aggressive style than its previous singles. In Ruffneck, which has been described as an "ode to thug love",[12] MC Lyte explicitly talks about her sexual preference for men who have an "evil smile with a mouth full of gold teeth", "dude with a attitude" who'll "smack it, lick it, swallow it up style."[10][13]
As Lyte told Vibe magazine in 2011, the song came about after then-Atlantic vice president Sylvia Rhone sent it to Virginia to work with Teddy Riley and his production team, who already had tracks ready for her.
"We were just sitting around talking and they played the 'Ruffneck' track. And we were thinking, "Okay, what can make an impact?" Someone brought up Apache’s "Gangsta Bitch". I thought it would be dope to give an ode to the ruffneck in the hood."[14]
Regarding her use of the expression "ruffneck" she commented "I started talking about having something that gives tribute to West Indians because I grew up around that culture. And ruffneck happened to be a term that was used in West Indian culture. It was the feel that New York was going through."[14] Years later Lyte was asked what happened to the girl who wanted a ruffneck, to which she replied "She’s older now. She still wants a ruffneck, but a ruffneck that’s a little more into the same things I’m into. Back then, I was still finding my way and was just someone who was willing to grow. So I’m not looking for the same ruffneck that I was looking back for then."[15]
In April 2020, on the 19th anniversary of the passing of TLC's Left Eye Lopes, Lyte has confessed that she originally had an appearance in the second verse "She flew down in the middle of her tour to Virginia to hit the studio with Aquil Davidson, Teddy Riley and ME", but that it could not be finalized because it was not approved by her label.[16]
Samples
The song is made up of multiple elements from
Commercial performance
Although at the time of its publication "Ruffneck" divided its fans, it ended up becoming a crossover success.
On November 30, 1993 "Ruffneck" became the first work by a female solo rapper to be certified gold by the RIAA, with 500,000 certified units (Previously only groups like Salt-N-Pepa and J. J. Fad had succeeded).[7]
Reception and influence
In his "Consumer Guide" column in
In retrospect, AllMusic's Alex Henderson commented in his Ain't No Other album review that Ruffneck is "The song that did the most to define the album", describing it as a "catchy, inspired single".[24] In 2001
Accolades
Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bruce Pollock | U.S. | Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era[11] | 2005 | * | ||
Blender | The 1001 Greatest Songs to Download Right Now![26] | 2003 | * | |||
Complex | The 50 Best Rap Songs by Women[10] | 2013 | #17 | |||
Vulture
|
The 100 Songs That Define New York Rap, Ranked[13] | 2020 | #36 | |||
XXL | 250 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of the 90s[9] | 2011 | #173 | |||
(*) designates lists which are unordered. |
Music video
The music video for "Ruffneck" was directed by Pamela Birkhead, who also worked with Run-DMC and the progressive metal group Dream Theater, and was released in May 1993.[27] Filmed on Long Island, it shows MC Lyte rapping with a group of men behind them cheering in the chorus and in a rooftop overlooking the Manhattan Bridge.[13] It also features a cameo from former X Clan member Lin Que.
In July 2016, in her note Hip-Hop Music Videos From Women in the ‘90s That Still Give Us Life, VH1's Jasmine Grant commented:
"(...) who could hate on her honesty when it came to the men of her preference? The subject of sex was jarring coming from a female hip hop artist at the time, but the unforgettable element of this video was the delicious eye candy she served us. Lyte gave us various flavors of sexiness and style that were just quintessential 90’s hip hop, and in true MC Lyte fashion, so effortless."[28]
Appearances
"Ruffneck" was included in her compilation albums
Single track listing
A-Side
- "Ruffneck" (12" Mix)- 5:22
- "Ruffneck" (Dub Mix)- 5:25
- "Ruffneck" (Instrumental)- 3:52
B-Side
- "Brooklyn" (Radio Edit)- 4:05
- "Brooklyn" (Dub Mix)- 4:05
- "Brooklyn" (Instrumental)- 3:51
Personnel
Credits are taken from the liner notes.[35]
- Lyrics By – Lyte
- Producer, Lyrics By, Music By – Aqil Davidson (tracks: A1 to A3)
- Producer, Music By – Franklyn Grant (tracks: B1 to B3), Markel Riley, Tyrone Fyffe (tracks: B1 to B3), Walter "Mucho" Scott (tracks: A1 to A3)
- Engineer – Franklin Grant, Keston Wright
- Executive Producer – Nat Robinson
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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See also
References
- ^ "ASCAP Repertory entry for this song". ASCAP. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
- ^ "ASCAP Repertory entry for this song". ASCAP. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
- ^ a b "MC Lyte Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
- ^ a b "MC Lyte - US Hot Rap Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
- ^ a b "Top 100 Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. LVII, no. 5. September 25, 1993. p. 8. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "MC Lyte". Kennedy Center. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "MC Lyte". Grammy.com. November 23, 2020.
- ^ ASIN B0054LSF0W.
- ^ a b c d "The 50 Best Rap Songs by Women". Complex. April 8, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0-415-97073-3.
- ^ The Boombox. May 22, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "The 100 Songs That Define New York Rap, Ranked (It's not a sound, it's an attitude.)". Vulture. September 14, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "Full Clip: MC Lyte Breaks Down Her Catalogue, KRS-One, Janet Jackson, Brandy, DJ Premier And More". VIBE (website). January 7, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ^ "Urban Smarts · Entertainment Music". Urban Smarts. January 7, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ "Instagram photo by mclyte • 25 april 2020". instagram.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ^ "MC Lyte Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ "Robert Christgau: Rude Girls Rule: Boss, MC Lyte, Yo Yo, Roxanne Shanté". Robert Christgau (website). July 13, 1993. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Robert Christgau Review". Robert Christgau (website). Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- NME. p. 17. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
- ^ Linden, Amy (1993). Vibe Nov. 1993.
- New York Times(website). August 15, 1993. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ^ "MC LYTE ATTACKS WITH BACKLASH RAP". The Washington Times (website). December 17, 1993. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- Allmusic. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ Mark Anthony Neal (September 3, 2001). "MC Lyte: The Very Best of MC Lyte". PopMatters. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
- ^ "The 1001 Greatest Songs to Download Right Now!". Blender. October 2003.
- ^ "MC Lyte". IMVDb. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ "Hip-Hop Music Videos From Women in the '90s That Still Give Us Life". VH1 (website). July 7, 2016. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "MC Lyte - Rhyme Masters". AllMusic. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ "Rhino Hi-Five: MC Lyte EP - MC Lyte - Release Info". Apple Music. April 24, 2007.
- ^ "Cold Rock a Party Best Of - MC Lyte - Release Info". Apple Music. January 6, 1997.
- ^ "MC Lyte - Lyte Of A Decade". AllMusic. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ "LIL' KIM, MC LYTE PUT FEMALE MCS CENTER STAGE AT HIP-HOP HONORS". MTV (website). October 9, 2006. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ "BET Hip-Hop Awards go political". Philadelphia Inquirer. October 22, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ Ruffneck (track listing). MC Lyte. First Priority Music, Atlantic Street. 1993. 0-96038.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. January 15, 1994. p. 22. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
- ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). December 18, 1993. p. 4. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ "MC Lyte Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "MC Lyte Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "MC Lyte Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "MC Lyte Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "MC Lyte Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "1993 Year End Chart: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ "American single certifications – MC Lyte – Ruffneck". Recording Industry Association of America.