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Ruffhouse
- From the Streets of Philly to the Top of the 90s Hip Hop Charts
- Narrated by: Pete Simonelli, JD Jackson, Adenrele Ojo
- Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins
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Ruffhouse
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Publisher's Summary
How Ruffhouse Records founder Chris Schwartz overcame poverty, abuse, and addiction to start one of the most pivotal labels in hip-hop history and launch the careers of some of music's biggest stars
"All respect to Chris Schwartz. He is a great visionary." --Nas
As a struggling musician trying to catch a break in 1980s Philadelphia, Chris Schwartz navigated the crime-infested, morally bankrupt music industry to found and build one of the most successful hip-hop record labels in the world. That label was Ruffhouse, which launched the careers of Nas, The Fugees, Cypress Hill, and others, dominating the charts and generating global revenues of over one billion dollars.
Schwartz and his partner, Joe Nicolo, built Ruffhouse from one desk and a phone to one of hip-hop's most revered record companies while simultaneously struggling with drug addiction and alcoholism. A story of money, greed, envy, betrayal, violence, addiction, loss, and redemption, not to mention a whole lot of music, Ruffhouse reveals the inside story of the record companies, recording studios, tour buses, private jets, mansions, radio stations, and concert halls at the height of hip-hop's 1990s heyday, while also uncovering the darker side of the business, from police stations to rehab clinics, courtrooms to prisons. Narrated in Schwartz's own candid, searing prose, Ruffhouse is a gripping portrayal of hip-hop culture at its tipping point, as it transitioned from urban curiosity to a global commercial platform.
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What listeners say about Ruffhouse
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- ChOcHa GuRl
- 2021-12-22
Fantastic Story
I enjoyed the Author's intense testimony about Haiti and so muh more in the book. It's very explosive!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Terrence C. Lee
- 2021-12-12
very interesting read
I never knew the back story of the Fugees record label. Very interesting read.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- myron
- 2019-07-08
great story....highly recommended
came in with no expectations, based on a tweet recommendation from Mr. Chuck D. incredible story and inspiring. learned alot!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- kirk lantz
- 2023-03-11
Meh
Great story overall. Most insightful about to workings of music business than other books about music. Only issues are that it is repetitive in parts and the timeline is not always chronological.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2023-02-16
The perfect title
This was very interesting to hear the back story. I enjoyed hearing the stories from beginning to end. Good job!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2023-01-24
It was very interesting at first
at first it was very interesting. I felt every emotion and was immediately drawn in. then, it seemed rushed.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jazziered
- 2023-01-05
Great listen
Shows you can overcome obstacles no matter what your situation is. He was brilliant!! So was Lauryn!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kwame
- 2022-10-11
Love a good underdog story!
l had some parallels with him. Don't know how he survived such a horrific childhood.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- O'Shea jones
- 2022-04-14
A TRUE HIP HOP STORY
This is what hip hop & being an American is about never giving up to achieve your goals
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Maurice
- 2022-02-28
good story and a great read
I love this story from the beginning very well read I suggest everyone read this
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