R.A. Thorburn, professionally known as R.A. the Rugged Man, is a multifaceted artist with a diverse range of talents. As a film producer, writer, magazine journalist, and rapper, he has made a significant impact in the hip-hop underground.
R.A. was the target of a nine-label bidding war as a teenager and eventually signed with Jive Records in 1992 and Priority/Capital Records in 1998. He went independent in 2004 and released his indie hit album "Die, Rugged Man, Die!", which became a worldwide success.
Throughout his career, R.A. has collaborated with some of the most renowned artists in rap history, including Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, and the late Notorious B.I.G. He has also worked with multi-platinum producers such as Erick Sermon, Trackmasters, DJ Quick, Alchemist, Havoc, Buckwild, and Ayatolah.
R.A. has made appearances on several notable projects, including Rawkus' Soundbombing albums, the platinum-selling WWF Aggression album, and the Tony Hawk's Underground video game. His work has been praised by his peers, with the late Notorious B.I.G. once stating, "I thought I was the illest!"
In addition to his hip-hop endeavors, R.A. is a prolific writer and has contributed to various publications, including Mass Appeal magazine, The Ego Trip Book of Rap Lists, and Ego Trip's Big Book of Racism. His writing has also appeared in magazines such as Vibe, King, Complex, and Source.
R.A. has also ventured into the world of literature, signing a book deal to co-author a book about his love of boxing with Maxboxing's Doug Fischer, scheduled for publication in 2008. Furthermore, he has written three screenplays with cult-film director Frank Henenlotter, including "Sick in the Head", "Love is Hell", and "Bad Biology", with the latter currently in post-production and set for release in 2007.
