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EspañolRUTHLESS RECORDS (LOS ANGELES)
(Redirected from Ruthless Records)
'Ruthless Records' is an imprint record label formed by Gangsta rapper Eazy-E with partner Jerry Heller in Eazy-E's home town of Compton, California in 1987. The label is credited with pioneering the gangsta rap genre of West Coast hip hop, and later, G-funk.
With Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella, Eazy-E formed the rap group N.W.A..
Other artists on the label included: Above the Law, Penthouse Players Clique, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, The D.O.C., Blood of Abraham, Steffon, Young E, Kokane, Brownside, Tairrie B, Kid Frost, A.L.T., Shaki aka Dirty Red, Slow Pain, N.W.A., Laylaw, Mister D & Sleepy Malo, Leicy Loc, Menajahtwa, Pistol and J.J. Fad.
In 1995, Eazy-E was diagnosed with AIDS and died shortly thereafter. After his death, the label was taken over by his wife, Tomica Wright. Ruthless Records is now a division of Epic Records.
During Dr.Dre’s defection from Ruthless Records there was a fear of further violence. Ruthless Records executives, Mike Klein and Jerry Heller sought assistance from the Jewish Defense League (JDL).[1] Mike Klein, former Ruthless Records director of business affairs said "The League offered to provide bodyguards to Eazy-E when Knight allegedly threatened him in the early 1990s." This provided Ruthless Records with muscle to enter into negotiations with Death Row Records over Dr.Dre’s departure. While Suge Knight violently sought an outright release from Ruthless Records for Dr.Dre, the JDL and Ruthless records management were able to sit down with Death Row and negotiate a release in which the record label would continue to receive money and publishing rights from future Dr.Dre projects. It was under these terms Dr.Dre left Ruthless Records and formed Death Row Records with Suge Knight.
The DEA launched a money laundering investigation, assuming that the JDL was extorting money from Ruthless Records to fight their extremist causes. This led to JDL spokesperson Irv Rubin to issue a press release stating "There was nothing but a close, tight relationship" between Eazy-E and the League.
Jerry Heller has explained JDL’s involvement with Ruthless Records for even more reasons than the FBI investigated. Heller has acknowledged that Eazy E received death threats, and it was discovered that he was on hit list by some neo-Nazi skinheads. The FBI never bothered to inform Eazy that his life was in danger. Heller has speculated that it may have been because of the ''Fuck Tha Police'' song. Heller said "It was no secret that in the aftermath of the Suge Knight shake down incident where Eazy was forced to sign over Dr Dre, Michele and DOC, that Ruthless was protected by Israeli trained/ connected security forces."[2] Jerry Heller maintains that Eazy E admired the group for their slogan ''Never Again,'' and that he had plans to do a movie about the group.
The label has had several distributors simultaneously. Early Ruthless releases were distributed by Malaco Records, but that deal was short lived and the rights reverted to Ruthless. All of N.W.A's releases and Eazy-E's first two solo releases on Ruthless were distributed by Priority Records, and the rights to these releases are now held by Priority's new owner, Capitol Records. Releases by The D.O.C., Michel'le, and JJ Fad were marketed through Atlantic Records or its subsidiary Atco Records. These master rights are still held by Atlantic's parent company, Warner Music Group, while Above The Law's releases were marketed through Epic Records. In the early 1990s, Ruthless found more exclusive distribution through Relativity Records, formerly a heavy metal label. Relativity was later folded into its parent company, Sony Music.
; 1987
:
★ N.W.A. – ''N.W.A. and the Posse'' Gold
; 1988
:
★ Eazy-E – ''Eazy-Duz-It'' 2x Platinum
:
★ J. J. Fad – ''Supersonic''
:
★ N.W.A. – ''Straight Outta Compton'' 3x Platinum
;1989
:
★ The D.O.C. – ''No One Can Do It Better'' Platinum
:
★ Michel'le – ''Michel'le'' Platinum
; 1990
:
★ N.W.A. – ''100 Miles and Runnin''' Gold
:
★ Above the Law – ''Livin' Like Hustlers''
:
★ Tairrie B – ''Power of a Woman''
; 1991
:
★ N.W.A. – ''Efil4zaggin'' 2x Platinum
:
★ Above the Law – ''Vocally Pimpin'''
:
★ J. J. Fad – ''Not Just a Fad''
:
★ Jimmy Z – ''Musical Madness''
:
★ Who Am I? – ''Addictive Hip Hop Muzick''
:
★ Yomo & Maulkie – ''Are You Xperienced?''
; 1992
:
★ Eazy E – '' Platinum
:
★ MC Ren – ''Kizz My Black Azz'' Platinum
:
★ Penthouse Players Clique – ''Paid the Cost''
; 1993
:
★ Eazy-E – ''It's on (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa'' 2x Platinum
:
★ MC Ren – ''Shock of the Hour'' Platinum
:
★ Above the Law – ''Black Mafia Life''
:
★ A.L.T. – ''Stone Cold World''
:
★ Blood of Abraham – ''Future Profits''
; 1994
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''Creepin On Ah Come Up'' 4x Platinum
:
★ Above the Law – ''Uncle Sam's Curse''
:
★ Kokane – ''Funk Upon A Rhyme''
:
★ Steffon – ''Trippin' Wit No Luggage''
:
★ H.W.A. – ''Az Much Azz U Want''
:
★ Menajahtwa – ''Cha-Licious''
:
★ Atban Klan – ''Puddles of H20''
:
★ Pistol – ''Hittin Like a Bullet''
; 1995
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''E. 1999 Eternal'' 6x Platinum
:
★ Eazy-E – ''Eternal E'' Platinum
:
★ Frost – ''Smile Now, Die Later''
:
★ Tab & Da Villon – ''Do or Die''
; 1996
:
★ Eazy-E – ''Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton'' Platinum
:
★ N.W.A. – ''Greatest Hits'' Gold
:
★ MC Ren – ''The Villain in Black'' Gold
; 1997
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''The Art of War (album)'' 4x Platinum
:
★ Frost – ''When Hell .A. Freezes Over''
; 1998
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''The Collection Volume One'' Platinum
:
★ M.C. Ren – ''Ruthless For Life'' Gold
:
★ Various Artists – ''Ruthless Records Tenth Anniversary Compilation''
:
★ Bizzy Bone – ''Heaven'z Movie'' Platinum
; 1999
:
★ Krayzie Bone – ''Thug Mentality 1999'' Platinum
:
★ Various Artists – ''Turf Stories Soundtrack''
; 2000
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''BTNHResurrection'' 2x Platinum
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''
;2001
:
★ L Burna aka Layzie Bone – ''Thug By Nature''
:
★ Krayzie Bone – ''Thug On Da Line''
; 2002
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''Thug World Order'' Platinum
:
★ Eazy-E – ''Impact of a Legend''
:
★ Baby S – ''Street Fractions''
; 2005
:
★ Eazy-E – ''Eternal E - Gangsta Memorial Edition'' Gold
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''Greatest Hits'' 2x Platinum
; 2006
:
★ N.W.A - "The Strength Of Street Knowledge"
★
★ Official website
★ Eazy-E Timeline (broken link) and Biography of Eazy-E have some information on the founding of 'Ruthless Records'.
'Ruthless Records' is an imprint record label formed by Gangsta rapper Eazy-E with partner Jerry Heller in Eazy-E's home town of Compton, California in 1987. The label is credited with pioneering the gangsta rap genre of West Coast hip hop, and later, G-funk.
| Contents |
| History |
| Eazy-E's Foundation |
| Death Row Records and the Jewish Defense League |
| Following Eazy-E's Passing |
| Studio Albums |
| See also |
| External links |
History
Eazy-E's Foundation
With Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella, Eazy-E formed the rap group N.W.A..
Other artists on the label included: Above the Law, Penthouse Players Clique, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, The D.O.C., Blood of Abraham, Steffon, Young E, Kokane, Brownside, Tairrie B, Kid Frost, A.L.T., Shaki aka Dirty Red, Slow Pain, N.W.A., Laylaw, Mister D & Sleepy Malo, Leicy Loc, Menajahtwa, Pistol and J.J. Fad.
In 1995, Eazy-E was diagnosed with AIDS and died shortly thereafter. After his death, the label was taken over by his wife, Tomica Wright. Ruthless Records is now a division of Epic Records.
Death Row Records and the Jewish Defense League
During Dr.Dre’s defection from Ruthless Records there was a fear of further violence. Ruthless Records executives, Mike Klein and Jerry Heller sought assistance from the Jewish Defense League (JDL).[1] Mike Klein, former Ruthless Records director of business affairs said "The League offered to provide bodyguards to Eazy-E when Knight allegedly threatened him in the early 1990s." This provided Ruthless Records with muscle to enter into negotiations with Death Row Records over Dr.Dre’s departure. While Suge Knight violently sought an outright release from Ruthless Records for Dr.Dre, the JDL and Ruthless records management were able to sit down with Death Row and negotiate a release in which the record label would continue to receive money and publishing rights from future Dr.Dre projects. It was under these terms Dr.Dre left Ruthless Records and formed Death Row Records with Suge Knight.
The DEA launched a money laundering investigation, assuming that the JDL was extorting money from Ruthless Records to fight their extremist causes. This led to JDL spokesperson Irv Rubin to issue a press release stating "There was nothing but a close, tight relationship" between Eazy-E and the League.
Jerry Heller has explained JDL’s involvement with Ruthless Records for even more reasons than the FBI investigated. Heller has acknowledged that Eazy E received death threats, and it was discovered that he was on hit list by some neo-Nazi skinheads. The FBI never bothered to inform Eazy that his life was in danger. Heller has speculated that it may have been because of the ''Fuck Tha Police'' song. Heller said "It was no secret that in the aftermath of the Suge Knight shake down incident where Eazy was forced to sign over Dr Dre, Michele and DOC, that Ruthless was protected by Israeli trained/ connected security forces."[2] Jerry Heller maintains that Eazy E admired the group for their slogan ''Never Again,'' and that he had plans to do a movie about the group.
Following Eazy-E's Passing
The label has had several distributors simultaneously. Early Ruthless releases were distributed by Malaco Records, but that deal was short lived and the rights reverted to Ruthless. All of N.W.A's releases and Eazy-E's first two solo releases on Ruthless were distributed by Priority Records, and the rights to these releases are now held by Priority's new owner, Capitol Records. Releases by The D.O.C., Michel'le, and JJ Fad were marketed through Atlantic Records or its subsidiary Atco Records. These master rights are still held by Atlantic's parent company, Warner Music Group, while Above The Law's releases were marketed through Epic Records. In the early 1990s, Ruthless found more exclusive distribution through Relativity Records, formerly a heavy metal label. Relativity was later folded into its parent company, Sony Music.
Studio Albums
; 1987
:
★ N.W.A. – ''N.W.A. and the Posse'' Gold
; 1988
:
★ Eazy-E – ''Eazy-Duz-It'' 2x Platinum
:
★ J. J. Fad – ''Supersonic''
:
★ N.W.A. – ''Straight Outta Compton'' 3x Platinum
;1989
:
★ The D.O.C. – ''No One Can Do It Better'' Platinum
:
★ Michel'le – ''Michel'le'' Platinum
; 1990
:
★ N.W.A. – ''100 Miles and Runnin''' Gold
:
★ Above the Law – ''Livin' Like Hustlers''
:
★ Tairrie B – ''Power of a Woman''
; 1991
:
★ N.W.A. – ''Efil4zaggin'' 2x Platinum
:
★ Above the Law – ''Vocally Pimpin'''
:
★ J. J. Fad – ''Not Just a Fad''
:
★ Jimmy Z – ''Musical Madness''
:
★ Who Am I? – ''Addictive Hip Hop Muzick''
:
★ Yomo & Maulkie – ''Are You Xperienced?''
; 1992
:
★ Eazy E – '' Platinum
:
★ MC Ren – ''Kizz My Black Azz'' Platinum
:
★ Penthouse Players Clique – ''Paid the Cost''
; 1993
:
★ Eazy-E – ''It's on (
:
★ MC Ren – ''Shock of the Hour'' Platinum
:
★ Above the Law – ''Black Mafia Life''
:
★ A.L.T. – ''Stone Cold World''
:
★ Blood of Abraham – ''Future Profits''
; 1994
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''Creepin On Ah Come Up'' 4x Platinum
:
★ Above the Law – ''Uncle Sam's Curse''
:
★ Kokane – ''Funk Upon A Rhyme''
:
★ Steffon – ''Trippin' Wit No Luggage''
:
★ H.W.A. – ''Az Much Azz U Want''
:
★ Menajahtwa – ''Cha-Licious''
:
★ Atban Klan – ''Puddles of H20''
:
★ Pistol – ''Hittin Like a Bullet''
; 1995
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''E. 1999 Eternal'' 6x Platinum
:
★ Eazy-E – ''Eternal E'' Platinum
:
★ Frost – ''Smile Now, Die Later''
:
★ Tab & Da Villon – ''Do or Die''
; 1996
:
★ Eazy-E – ''Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton'' Platinum
:
★ N.W.A. – ''Greatest Hits'' Gold
:
★ MC Ren – ''The Villain in Black'' Gold
; 1997
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''The Art of War (album)'' 4x Platinum
:
★ Frost – ''When Hell .A. Freezes Over''
; 1998
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''The Collection Volume One'' Platinum
:
★ M.C. Ren – ''Ruthless For Life'' Gold
:
★ Various Artists – ''Ruthless Records Tenth Anniversary Compilation''
:
★ Bizzy Bone – ''Heaven'z Movie'' Platinum
; 1999
:
★ Krayzie Bone – ''Thug Mentality 1999'' Platinum
:
★ Various Artists – ''Turf Stories Soundtrack''
; 2000
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''BTNHResurrection'' 2x Platinum
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''
;2001
:
★ L Burna aka Layzie Bone – ''Thug By Nature''
:
★ Krayzie Bone – ''Thug On Da Line''
; 2002
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''Thug World Order'' Platinum
:
★ Eazy-E – ''Impact of a Legend''
:
★ Baby S – ''Street Fractions''
; 2005
:
★ Eazy-E – ''Eternal E - Gangsta Memorial Edition'' Gold
:
★ Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – ''Greatest Hits'' 2x Platinum
; 2006
:
★ N.W.A - "The Strength Of Street Knowledge"
See also
★
External links
★ Official website
★ Eazy-E Timeline (broken link) and Biography of Eazy-E have some information on the founding of 'Ruthless Records'.
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