R.A. The Rugged Man

R.A. the Rugged Man, real name R.A. Thorburn, is a rapper from Long Island. He began his music career at age 12. At 18, he signed to Jive Records, but eventually was dropped because of his violent and irresponsible behavior. He has worked

R.A. the Rugged Man, real name R.A. Thorburn, is a rapper from Long Island. He began his music career at age 12. At 18, he signed to Jive Records, but eventually was dropped because of his violent and irresponsible behavior. He has worked with Mobb Deep, Smut Peddlers and Notorious B.I.G, as well as producers Erick Sermon, Trackmasters, DJ Quik, Alchemist, J-Zone, and Ayatollah. He was featured on all three of Rawkus’s Soundbombing albums, as well as the platinum-selling WWF Aggression album.

Coming from a broken Long Island home, R.A.'s father was a gun toting Vietnam veteran/mental patient affected by Agent Orange. His family was forever changed by the potent chemical — his brother Maxx was born handicapped and blind, eventually dying at the age of 10, while his sister Dee Ann couldn’t walk or speak.