Ruffhouse

From the Streets of Philly to the Top of the 90s Hip Hop Charts

By: Chris Schwartz, Ms. Lauryn Hill - foreword, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson - introduction

Narrated by: Pete Simonelli, JD Jackson, Adenrele Ojo

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.

©2019 by Christopher Schwartz. Foreword © 2019 by Ms. Lauryn Hill. (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Great listen

Shows you can overcome obstacles no matter what your situation is. He was brilliant!! So was Lauryn!!

inside view

It's nice to get a different perspective. I enjoyed hearing about the music business from the inside.

This old head loved it

Finished this book in 5 days. Didn't want it to end. Lot of incredible inside into the music industry and artists I've adored for decades.

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.

very interesting read

I never knew the back story of the Fugees record label. Very interesting read.