Ruffhouse
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1980s
A01=Chris Schwartz
A23=Ms. Lauryn Hill
A24=Ahmir Questlove Thompson
abuse
addiction
African American
Age Group_Uncategorized
Age Group_Uncategorized
artists
Author_Chris Schwartz
automatic-update
business
Category1=Non-Fiction
Category=AVGR
Category=AVLP
Category=BGFA
Category=DNBF1
Category=KNTF
childhood
COP=United States
crime
culture
Delivery_Delivery within 10-20 working days
difficult
drugs
eq_art-fashion-photography
eq_bestseller
eq_biography-true-stories
eq_business-finance-law
eq_isMigrated=0
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_music
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
founders
hip-hop history
hip-hop industry
industry
insiders
labels
Language_English
memoirs
music
musicians
overcoming
PA=Available
Philadelphia
poor
poverty
Price_€10 to €20
PS=Active
radio
rap
rappers
record label
recording
records
rich
softlaunch
stars
studios
success
urban
wealthy
Product details
- ISBN 9781635767308
- Weight: 318g
- Dimensions: 152 x 229mm
- Publication Date: 21 Jul 2020
- Publisher: Diversion Books
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Paperback
- Language: English
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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 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.
"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 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.
Chris Schwartz is the founder and CEO of Ruffhouse Records. At its height, Ruffhouse’s roster included The Fugees, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Cypress Hill, Kriss Kross, and Kool Keith, among others. Ruffhouse Records sold more than 120 million records worldwide, generating over a billion dollars in sales and a multitude of Grammy Awards. Chris has been the recipient of many awards celebrating his success, including 250 gold and platinum records and a plaque on the Philadelphia Music Alliance’s Walk of Fame. He lives with his wife and daughter in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania.
