Ruffhouse: From the Streets of Philly to the Top of the '90s Hip-Hop Charts

by Chris Schwartz, Ms. Lauryn Hill (Foreword), Ahmir Thompson (Introduction)

“All respect to Chris Schwartz. He is a great visionary.”―Nas

"Fans of these artists will love the insider information."― Library Journal

Before he started one of the most pivotal labels in hip-hop history, Chris Schwartz was a musician struggling to catch a break in 1980s Philadelphia. Ruffhouse divulges how he navigated the crime-infested, morally bankrupt music industry to found and build one of the world’s most successful hip-hop labels and debuted some of its biggest stars. Ruffhouse Records launched the careers of Nas, The Fugees, Wyclef Jean, Cypress Hill, Kris Koss, and others, dominating the charts and generating global revenues of over one billion dollars.

A saga 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 industry’s darker side, 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.

"Schwartz's insider tale will appeal."―Publishers Weekly

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published July 21, 2020

Reviews

[Damien · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overall good read that sadly ended very abruptly, listing what seems to be several years in a couple pages, more of a rush ending (post Miseducation to today) in what read like a Wiki entry paragraph for "1999-current".

I'd be interested in a Joe Nicolo book now to compare/contrast Schwartz's views on the same time period.

[Samantha Tully · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book blind. I actually liked this one and couldn't out it down. Very interesting.

[Andy Rausch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely one of the best books on the music business -- specifically hip-hop music. A wonderful read.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my library we used to have a giant book called How to Make it in the Music Business that was always either checked out or missing from the shelf. Chris Schwartz' plainspoken and honest book is destined to replace it. A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer was another perennial favorite with my teenagers. In Ruffhouse, Schwartz honestly details his own experience with horrific child abuse as well. This book belongs in every public library, youth center, youth detention center, school library, and place where teens might pick something up and pass it around in search of a way forward.

[Karl Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very solid book!!! Learned a lot about the early Philly hip hop scene that I didn't know from this book.