Ruff Sqwad

Last updated

Ruff Sqwad
Genres Grime
Instruments
Years active
  • 2001–2013
  • 2015–present
Labels
Members
  • Prince Rapid
  • Fuda Guy
  • Roachee
Past members
  • Tinchy Stryder
  • Slix
  • Dirty Danger
  • Mad Max
  • Shifty Rydos
  • DJ Scholar
  • DJ Begg
  • XTC
  • Sir Spyro
  • Mercy

Ruff Sqwad are an English grime crew. [1] The group was formed in 2001 in Bow, East London. Various members and affiliates of the crew are considered key figures in the early development of grime music. [2]

Contents

Ruff Sqwad first became known in the early days of grime for the distinctive production style of the crew's producers. Early Ruff Sqwad instrumentals were released on white label, which are currently rare and fetch high prices on the second hand market. [3] Notable early Ruff Sqwad instrumentals include Pied Piper, [4] Functions on the Low [5] and Misty Cold. [6] Functions on the Low, produced by Ruff Sqwad affiliate XTC has been described as one of the greatest tracks in the history of British electronic music. [7] The crew has released two mixtapes, Guns and Roses Volume. 1 and Guns and Roses Volume. 2 , an extended play (2012) as well as an instrumental compilation album, White Label Classics. [8] [9]

History

Origins: 2001–2005

Ruff Sqwad was formed by a group of teenage school friends in East London in 2001 or 2002. Many of the group's best known instrumentals were made by Rapid and Dirty Danger on cheap home PCs as 14- and 15-year-olds. [10] The group would regularly bunk school to record songs and to press up vinyl at Music House. [7] The crew was active on the London pirate radio scene and at various times during the early 2000s had shows on Rinse FM, Heat, Flava, Mystic, and Deja Vu FM. [7] During this period the group regularly released singles on white label vinyl on an imprint called Ruff Sqwad Recordings following a template laid out by Wiley's Wiley Kat Recordings.

"Grime from the "golden days" of 2003–5 is very close to my heart. Even within this ultra-niche, ultra-creative genre full of variety, few crews had the unique magic of Ruff Sqwad. It was something about the colour and dizzying emotion in their melodies, the raw DIY aesthetic of their productions – many made on computes in their college music lab – the unusual penchant for '80s stadium rock drum fills and guitar synths… The MCs had their individual styles dripping with charisma but as a team could sound so honed."

—Bok Bok [11]

Mixtape releases: 2005–2006

In 2005, Ruff Sqwad's first mixtape, Guns and Roses Volume. 1 , was released. It was released in March 2005 on the independent record label Ruff Sqwad Recordings, and was very well received by the grime scene. It has been ranked amongst the best full-length studio albums of all time to come from the grime scene. The album was the first of a three-part album series. [12]

Ruff Sqwad's second mixtape, Guns and Roses Volume. 2 , was released in October 2006. [13] It was released on the independent record label Ruff Sqwad Recordings, and was very well received by the grime scene. Along with their debut album, Guns and Roses Volume. 1 , it has also been ranked amongst the best full-length studio albums of all time to come from the grime scene. [13] During this period Ruff Sqwad performed regularly at live events including the very first Dirty Canvas night put on by NoHatsNoHoods.

Decline, breakup and new roster

Following the solo success of Tinchy Stryder and other crew members Ruff Sqwad became less active as a group. In 2011 the crew recorded a single called Mario Balotelli. In 2012 Rapid and Dirty Danger collaborated with NoHatsNoHoods to recover recordings previously thought to be lost [11] of some of the group's early instrumentals which led to the release of a compilation album called White Label Classics. The group has been on hiatus since releasing Cold in 2013. In May 2015, Tinchy Stryder confirmed that Ruff Sqwad had split up, citing reasons such as internal conflicts and Slix not making music anymore. [14] In December 2015, a music video for the new song That's Who We Are was released, starring original member Prince Rapid, previous member Fuda Guy and previously affiliated Roachee, all of them seemingly part of Ruff Sqwad. [15]

Though Ruff Sqwad was not musically active as a group for the most part of 2015, the year showed a resurgence in other grime MC's utilising instrumental productions stemming from former and current members from Ruff Sqwad, such as the song Stormzy – Shut Up which used XTC's Functions on the Low instrumental.

In October 2023, music magazine TRENCH hosted a free event at the Adidas Flagship Store on Oxford Street headlined by Ruff Sqwad. Many of the crew's original members including Tinchy Stryder, Dirty Danger, Prince Rapid, Slix and Fuda Guy were involved in the performance, which was quoted as their first in six years. [16] In March 2024, Rapid, Slix (credited as Slix Fleeingham) and Dirty Danger (credited as David Is A King) released a collaborative EP as Ruff Sqwad titled Flee FM, inspired by pirate radio sets. [17]

Members

Ruff Sqwad currently has three members: Prince Rapid, Fuda Guy and Roachee.

Ruff Sqwad logo from 2006 - 2010 Ruff Sqwad logo.jpg
Ruff Sqwad logo from 2006 – 2010

Tinchy Stryder

Tinchy Stryder (Real name: Kwasi Danquah III, born 14 September 1986), has been a member of the Ruff Sqwad since 2001. He is the best known member of the group having had much mainstream success with his solo material. Stryder has been prominent in the grime scene since the early 2000s and was a member of Roll Deep crew for a short period of time early in his career. His solo discography includes three albums and two UK number 1 singles. [18]

Roachee

Former Roll Deep member Roachee replaced Slix and appeared in the music video for 'That's How We Are' by Ruff Sqwad.

Dirty Danger

Dirty Danger (David Nkrumah, born 1984 and formerly known as Dirty Dangerous) is a grime MC and producer and founding member of Ruff Sqwad. Dirty Danger is one of the more active producers in the crew and his best known track is Misty Cold. He produced various tracks for Tinchy Stryder's debut album "Star in the Hood", as well as Ruff Sqwad's two Guns and Roses Mixtapes. He has been involved with the Ruff Sqwad movement from the outset and is a well-known artist within the grime scene. He has released two solo mixtapes I Ain't Rich Yet and Danger Season.

Prince Rapid

Rapid (Prince Owusu-Agyekum born 8 November 1985), is a grime musician and producer and founding member of Ruff Sqwad. Prince Rapid is one of the more active producers in the crew and is considered one of the best producers in the grime scene. [19] He produced the group's first underground single, "Tings in Boots". He has had various solo releases including Turning Point and Rapid Fire.

In September 2015, Rapid created a war dub entitled "Pepper Riddim". [19] This instrumental was later used in March 2015 by Chip on a song of the same name; a diss track directed at Tinie Tempah, Bugzy Malone, Devilman, Big Narstie and Saskilla. [20] Chip's version of the song has accumulated over four million YouTube views, [21] and sparked one of the most talked about grime beefs of the year. [22] The instrumental has since been used by P Money, Yungen, Riko Dan and Lil Nasty among others.

Sir Spyro

Sir Spyro (born 1986), is a DJ and producer. Sir Spyro is the current DJ for Ruff Sqwad and is the tour DJ for Tinchy Stryder, he formally joined the group in 2011. [23] Spyro has a regular show on BBC Radio 1Xtra and has released numerous solo EPs. He produced hit 'Big For Your Boots' for Stormzy. [24]

Former members

Ruff Sqwad was founded in the year 2001 by Shifty Rydos, the original lineup also included Tinchy Stryder, Slix, Dirty Danger, Rapid, DJ Begg and Mad Max. [18] Frequent collaborators with the crew included XTC, Roachee, Wiley and Trim. DJ Scholar became a member of Ruff Sqwad in 2004 and remained in the crew until 2010. [18] Fuda Guy joined the crew in 2006 and released a solo mixtape while in the group called Headgone before leaving the group in 2012. [18] In December 2016, Fuda Guy again appeared as a member of Ruff Sqwad in the song That's Who We Are. Also appearing in the song is original member Prince Rapid and Roachee, who has been affiliated with the group earlier. [25]

Membership

Current

Former

Discography

Mixtapes

TitlesDetails
Guns and Roses Volume. 1 [18]
  • Released: March 2005
  • Label: Ruff Sqwad Recordings
  • Formats: CD
Guns and Roses Volume. 2 [18]
  • Released: October 2006
  • Label: Ruff Sqwad Recordings
  • Formats: CD

Bootleg mixtapes

TitlesDetails
Personal Bliss Inducers [18]
Ruff Kuts [26]

Compilations

TitlesDetails
White Label Classics [27]

Videography

List of music videos, showing year released and director
TitleYearDirector(s)Ref.
"Anna/Down"2004 Brandon "Maniac" Jolie [18]
"Xtra"
(Tinchy Stryder with Ruff Sqwad)		2007
"Walking U Home"2008Jak "FrSH" O'Hare &

Brandon "Maniac" Jolie

"RSMD"
"I Wanna Let U Know"
(with various Grime artists)		2009Jak "FrSH" O'Hare
"Tryna Be Me"
(Tinchy Stryder with Ruff Sqwad)
"On My Own"
(Blame with Ruff Sqwad)		2010Danann Breathnach
"Champions"Jak "FrSH" O'Hare
"This Side"2011Craig Capone
"Las Vegas"Luke Monaghan
"Mario Balotelli"2012Luke Monaghan & James Barber [28]
"Cold"2013SBTV [28]

White label releases

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roll Deep</span> British grime crew formed by Wiley in 2001

Roll Deep are a British grime crew. They were founded in 2001 by Wiley shortly before the disbandment of UK garage crew Pay As U Go Cartel.

DaVinChe is a British record producer and songwriter from South London, England who is best known as one of the pioneer producers in the UK grime scene. His notable works include Kano's "Brown Eyes" and "P's and Q's", Mez Featuring Stormzy "Lex Luther", Giggs and Shola Ama "Blow Em' Away", Bashy featuring Wretch 32's "Male Pride", Tinie Tempah's "Tears", Tinchy Stryder's "Something About Your Smile", and a funky house hit collaboration with long time friends DJ Perempay and Katie Pearl "Something in the Air".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tinchy Stryder</span> Ghanaian-British rapper, singer-songwriter and entrepreneur (born 1986)

Kwasi Esono Danquah III, known by his stage name Tinchy Stryder, is a British rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and investor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boy Better Know</span> Music collective and label in Britain

Boy Better Know, often abbreviated as BBK, is a British grime collective and record label. The collective was founded in North London in 2005 as an independent record label by brothers Jamie and Joseph Adenuga, better known as Jme and Skepta, respectively. The former also serves as a sole owner and director of an associated company, Boy Better Know Limited, incorporated in 2008. All members of the collective use the record label as a means to publish their music, and is digitally distributed by The Orchard, a subsidiary of Sony Music.

The discography of Tinchy Stryder, a recording artist whose real name is Kwasi Danquah, consists of four studio albums, one compilation album, one collaboration album, five extended plays, four mixtapes, 17 singles, five singles as a featured artist, and ten collaborations. Danquah has sold over 22.2 million digital singles worldwide. Danquah performed under the stage name Stryder from 1997 to 2006, and has performed under the stage name Tinchy Stryder since 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Game Over (Tinchy Stryder song)</span> 2010 single by Tinchy Stryder and others

"Game Over" is a song by Tinchy Stryder, released as a promotional single from his third studio album Third Strike. The song features vocals from Example, Giggs, Devlin, Chipmunk, Professor Green and Tinie Tempah, who each have their own verse. It was released on 15 November 2010 via digital download. An official remix featuring Ghetts, Slix, Griminal, Dot Rotten, Fuda Guy, Wretch 32, Roachee, Maxsta & Tinchy Stryder, can be found with a video on YouTube.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hustle Hard</span> 2011 single by Ace Hood

Hustle Hard is the first official single from Ace Hood's third studio album Blood, Sweat & Tears. It originally appeared on Ace Hood's preceding mixtape The Statement. It is produced by Lex Luger. The official remix features Rick Ross and Lil Wayne. The original music video and half of the remix music video was made on the same day. A version of the track featuring Swizz Beatz was also a part of Swizz' "Monster Mondays" program. The remix music video was released to 106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live, on his birthday, May 11, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takeover Entertainment</span> British entertainment company

Takeover Entertainment was a British entertainment company. The organization operates an independent record label, talent agency, a music production company, as well as its own music publishing house. The company was founded in 2006 and is run by Kwasi Danquah III, Archie Lamb and Jack Foster. It specializes in producing R&B, hip hop and electronic music. It was dissolved in October 2013

<i>Lost and Found</i> (Tinchy Strider mixtape) 2006 mixtape by Tinchy Stryder

Lost and Found is the second of 3 mixtapes by Tinchy Stryder, It was released on 24 October 2006 on the label Boy Better Know. The mixtape sees Stryder rapping with Wiley, who featured on Stryders first mixtape, I'm Back U Know, and the mixtape also features a few members of Ruff Sqwad. It features a collection of 14 unreleased tracks that had never been heard before the release of the mixtape, and Underground which was released in 2005.

<i>Guns and Roses Volume. 1</i> 2005 studio album by Ruff Sqwad

Guns and Roses Volume. 1 is the debut mixtape by grime crew Ruff Sqwad. It was released in March 2005 on the independent record label Ruff Sqwad Recordings. It is considered to be one of the best mixtapes to come from the grime scene. The album is the first of a three-part album series.

<i>Guns and Roses Volume. 2</i> 2006 studio album by Ruff Sqwad

Guns and Roses Volume. 2 is the second mixtape by grime crew Ruff Sqwad. It was released in October 2006 on the independent record label Ruff Sqwad Recordings. Like Guns and Roses Volume. 1, it is considered one of the best mixtapes to emerge from the grime scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something About Your Smile</span> 2007 single by Tinchy Stryder featuring Cyleena Cymone

"Something About Your Smile" is a single by grime vocalist Tinchy Stryder, released as the second single from his debut album, Star in the Hood on 6 August 2007. The song features guest vocals from British singer-songwriter, Cylena Cymone, and was well received by the grime scene. The song was composed by Stryder, and written by Cylena Cymone and DaVinChe, and produced by DaVinChe.

"Mainstream Money" is the third and final single from grime vocalist Tinchy Stryder's debut album, Star in the Hood. The single was released in November 2007. The song was written and produced by renowned grime music producer Maniac, who has claimed that the instrumental for the track is the one he is most proud of. The song was also notable for being heard on the BBC soap "EastEnders" several times in late 2007. The track "Sorry, You Are?" was also released as part of the single. It features vocals from fellow rapper Chipmunk, and later featured as a hidden track on Star in the Hood, and also appeared on Cloud 9: The EP.

This is the videography of Tinchy Stryder, and it consists of twenty-five music videos as a lead artist, fifteen music videos as a featured artist, and three music video cameo appearances, one film and one television appearances. In total he has been in a total of forty-three music videos, one movie and television program to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Off the Record (Tinchy Stryder song)</span> 2011 single by Tinchy Strider

"Off the Record" is a song by British rapper Tinchy Stryder. The song features British music producers Calvin Harris and Matt Burns. It was meant to be the second single from his fourth studio album, entitled Full Tank, but Full Tank was scrapped, so it became a non-album single. It was released on 4 November 2011 as a digital download. The song was co-written by Stryder and the production trio TMS, and was co-produced by Calvin Harris and BURNS, in August 2011. The single had its debut in BBC Radio 1Xtra's on 15 September 2011. The song peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart. It is most notable for its appearance on the compilation album Now 80.

<i>2012</i> (Ruff Sqwad EP) 2012 EP by Ruff Sqwad

2012 is an EP by grime supergroup Ruff Sqwad. It was released on 24 January 2012 by Takeover Entertainment as a free downloadable EP prior to the release of Ruff Sqwad's third solo studio album, Guns and Roses Volume. 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Balotelli (song)</span> 2012 single by Ruff Sqwad

"Mario Balotelli" is a song by grime crew Ruff Sqwad. The song is taken from their EP 2012. It was released on 24 January 2012 as a digital download.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Me, To You (Bruv)</span> 2014 single by Tinchy Stryder & the Chuckle Brothers

"To Me, To You (Bruv)" is a 2014 charity single by Tinchy Stryder and the Chuckle Brothers. It was released on 23 October 2014 on Cloud 9 and was produced by longtime Tinchy Stryder affiliate Dirty Danger. The song was released in aid of the African-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust.

Anthony George Harris, better known by his stage name President T, is a British grime artist from North London. President T was born in Birmingham, but moved to Tottenham, North London when he was 3 years old. He is known for his distinct style of delivery, offbeat rhyming patterns, and flow.

References

  1. ↑ TINCHY STRYDER GOES BACK TO GRIME!?. MTV. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  2. ↑ "'Died in your Arms': before the legendary grime unit disbands, FACT meets Ruff Sqwad to talk White Label Classics". Fact Mag. 3 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "'Died in your Arms': before the legendary grime unit disbands, FACT meets Ruff Sqwad to talk White Label Classics – Page 3 of 3". 3 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "Ruff Sqwad – Pied Piper". Discogs .
  5. ↑ "XTC (7) – Misty Cold Remix / Functions / Baby Wipes". Discogs .
  6. ↑ "Ruff Sqwad – Misty Cold". Discogs .
  7. 1 2 3 Hancox, Dan (6 December 2012). "A history of grime, by the people who created it". The Guardian.
  8. ↑ The Jam Session with Tinchy Stryder. BBC. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  9. ↑ Tinchy Stryder the interview. MTV. Retrieved 14 August 2011
  10. ↑ "'Died in your Arms': before the legendary grime unit disbands, FACT meets Ruff Sqwad to talk White Label Classics – Page 2 of 3". 3 December 2012.
  11. 1 2 "'Died in your Arms': before the legendary grime unit disbands, FACT meets Ruff Sqwad to talk White Label Classics". 3 December 2012.
  12. ↑ Ruff Sqwad – Guns and Roses Volume. 1 – UK Record Shop. www.ukrecordshop.com.
  13. 1 2 Ruff Sqwad – Guns and Roses Volume. 2 – UK Record Shop. www.ukrecordshop.com.
  14. ↑ . Youtube.com. Tinchy Stryder interview on NFTR – 12:57. Retrieved 6 December 2015
  15. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=723UbV7Wcbk Youtube.com. Ruff Sqwad – That's Who We Are (music video). Retrieved 6 December 2015
  16. ↑ "UD Low Down: TRENCH x adidas @ adidas flagship store, London". Urban Development. 5 October 2023.
  17. ↑ Eede, Christian (4 March 2024). "Ruff Sqwad return with first new music since 2015 hiatus, 'Flee FM': Listen". DJ Mag .
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Ruff Sqwad – Grimpedia". Grimepedia. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  19. 1 2 "Grime producers have spent the last 24 hours clashing like there's no tomorrow; stream war dubs from Wiley, Rapid, JME, Preditah and more". 11 September 2013.
  20. ↑ "Chip fires shots at Big Narstie, Tinie Tempah and Bugzy Malone on "Pepper Riddim," Big Narstie Responds". MOBO Awards . 23 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "CHIP – PEPPER RIDDIM". Chiptubeofficial on YouTube . 20 March 2015.
  22. ↑ Holness, Vidal (5 April 2015). "Updated: All you need to know about the grime beef so far". GRM Daily.
  23. ↑ "Sir Spyro – July 2011 Mix". pitchcontrollers.blogspot.com. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  24. ↑ "BBC Radio 1Xtra – Sir Spyro – Sir Spyro". BBC.
  25. ↑ . Youtube.com. Ruff Sqwad – That's Who We Are (music video). Retrieved 6 December 2015
  26. ↑ silverdrizzle (17 June 2014). "RUFF SQWAD – RUFF KUTS (MIXTAPE)" – via YouTube.
  27. ↑ "White Label Classics". Amazon UK.
  28. 1 2 Tinchy Stryder (17 January 2012). "Ruff Sqwad – Mario Balotelli (Official Video)" – via YouTube.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.