Ruff Ryders Entertainment was a record label founded by Joaquin “Waah” Dean and Darin “Dee” Dean and Chivon Dean, uncles and aunt of producer Swizz Beatz. It operated as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. The label was disbanded in 2010.
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, and had success with releases from female rapper Eve, The L.O.X. and its main rapper Jadakiss, Drag-On, and newcomer 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.
Ruff Ryders Anthem
Money, Power, Respect – The LOX, DMX, Lil Kim
Jigga – Swiss Beatz feat Jay-Z (explicit)