History

Ruff Ryders' founders were initially famous for managing rappers DMX and The Lox who became multi-platinum stars for Def Jam Recordings and Bad Boy Records in the late-1990s. After DMX's success, the management company started its own label imprint through Interscope Records, and had success with releases from female rapper Eve, former Bad Boy Records group The L.O.X. - the trio consisting of Jadakiss, Styles P and Sheek Louch, all of whom also released successful solo projects under the label, Drag-On, and Jin, winner of BET's 106 & Park freestyle MC battle competition. The Deans' nephew Swizz Beatz is the main producer for most of the acts on the roster. In 2000, when DMX accepted an award for the best Rap album at the Billboard Music Awards, the rapper was joined on the stage by his fellow Ruff Ryders' artists. In 2001, Cassidy was signed to the label through Swizz Beatz along with Full Surface labelmate Yung Wun.

As the first Reunion Project since their 2005 Album The Redemption, Vol. 4 Jadakiss and Swizz Beatz invited Drag-On, Eve, Styles P, Sheek Louch and DMX, who had just been released from jail, for the Remix of "Who's Real". A Ruff Ryders Reunion Album was announced by Swizz Beatz and was originally set to release in 2008 but it got pushed back.

In 2010, founders Joaquin and Darin Dean decided to revamp the brand through a new venture known as Ruff Ryders Indy, as a Fontana/Universal affiliated distribution company. This marked the end of Ruff Ryders Entertainment.

In addition to Ruff Ryder Indy, other brands include Ruff Ryders Films, Powerhouse Recording Studios, NatPro, a promotional company, and RR Rescue.

Artists

• Cassidy
• DMX
• The LOX
• Jadakiss
• Styles P
• Sheek Louch
• Swizz Beatz

Former artists

• Drag-On
• Jin
• Eve

Labels founded by Ruff Ryder artists

• Bloodline Records
• D-Block Records
• Full Surface
• Hood Environment Entertainment
• From the Rib Music
• SoRaspy

Releases

DMX

• It's Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998)
• Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998)
• ...And Then There Was X (1999)
• The Great Depression (2001)
• Grand Champ (2003)
• Year of the Dog...Again (2006)
• The Definition of X: The Pick of the Litter (Greatest Hits) (2007)

Drag-On

• Opposite of H2O (2000)
• Hell and Back (2004)

Eve

• Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady (1999)
• Scorpion (2001)
• Eve-Olution (2002)

Jadakiss

• Kiss tha Game Goodbye (2001)
• Kiss of Death (2004)
• The Last Kiss (2009)

Styles P

• A Gangster and a Gentleman (2002)
• Time Is Money (2006)
• Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman (2007)

Sheek Louch

• Walk Witt Me (2003)
• After Taxes (2005)
• Silverback Gorilla (2008)

The LOX

• We Are the Streets (2000)

Jin

• The Rest Is History (2004)

Ruff Ryders

• Ryde or Die Vol. 1 (1999)
• Ryde or Die Vol. 2 (2000)
• Ryde or Die Vol. 3: In the "R" We Trust (2001)
• The Redemption Vol. 4 (2005)
• Ruff Ryders: Past, Present, Future (2011)

Swizz Beatz

• Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories (2002)
• One Man Band Man (2007)

Cassidy

• Split Personality (2004)
• I'm a Hustla (2005)
• B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story (2007)

Yung Wun

• The Dirtiest Thirstiest (2004)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]