RUGGED INTELLECT - ALBUM IN STORES & I-TUNES

PRODUCTION BY: DOMINGO, BUCKWILD (DITC), MEMO (MOLEMEN), ADAM SAMPLER, APOKALYPTIK AND MORE

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BIOGRAPHY

Rugged Intellect is the true Renaissance Man of hip-hop. Armed with an endless barrage of multi-layered flows and a penchant for sinister street narratives, Rugged is the next generation of the MC, mastering the art of crafting timeless records that will resonate in the world of hip-hop music forever. Raising himself out of the gutters of poverty, Rugged Intellect's name is synonymous with breaking barriers and making history at every turn. Co-signed by some of hip-hop's most official MCs and producers, Rugged's potential hints at a level of greatness comparable to some of the lyrical mercenaries he has worked with, from Queens legend Kool G Rap to West Coast icon Ras Kass, to name a few.

Starting off as an upstart MC in his hometown of Montreal, Rugged's story is an inspirational one. Raised in a single parent household, young Rugged's adolescence was filled with eye-opening experiences and life lessons that eventually gave him the knowledge and wisdom he possesses today. Blessed with his signature gravel baritone and an undying thirst to chase his dreams, Rugged's entry into the game was quite unexpected.

After demonstrating his undeniable talents on early solo recordings, Rugged Intellect was signed to Artistic Parole in 2004, a Universal-distributed label founded by former Dreamworks and Priority Records A&R Ryan Urie. Leaving his stomping grounds for the star-studded strips of Hollywood, Rugged recorded an EP which featured production from DJ Muggs of Soul Assassins/Cypress Hill, Memo of the Molemen, and DJ Khalil of Self Scientific, but the project was later dismantled due to professional differences that had Rugged leaving the label in 2005.

Never one to fold in the face of adversity, Rugged persevered and recorded new joints with longtime collaborator Adam Sampler that eventually caught the attention of legendary East Coast producer Domingo, most notably known for crafting such classic hip-hop singles as "The MC" for KRS-One and "Dream Shatterer" for the late Big Punisher. Mentoring Rugged with his years of expertise in the game of rap, Domingo took the young cannon under his wing, giving him the perfect opportunity to develop his craft at an even higher level of musical professionalism.

Striving for perfection, this poetical juggernaut now stands in the frontline of rap lyricism with an astute command of song structure and a knack for crafting classic hooks unlike any of his contemporaries. Drawing comparisons to microphone legends like Rakim and Big Punisher, Rugged excels with an ability to cover any topic with analytical precision unseen since the golden days of hip-hop.

A true entrepreneur in the urban entertainment market, Rugged Intellect is a name you might want to remember as he continues to carve out his own niche in an oversatured market of here-today-gone-tomorrow rap gimmicks. Opting for longevity in favor of overnight success, Rugged is now at the control of his own destiny, handling all business affairs for his new label Renaissance Music, and working in conjunction with Adam Sampler's Expertism Music Group to bring you the type of classic hip-hop consumers have been so eagerly anticipating. It's a new day in the rap game!

RUGGED INTELLECT - BITERS BLOCK (UNOFFICIAL VIDEO)

RUGGED INTELLECT LIVE PERFORMANCE at BAMBUU BAR, SOUTHAMPTON UNITED KINGDOM NOVEMBER 2007

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Rugged Intellect has performed with DJ KOOL HERC, Ice-T, The Beatnuts, Jedi Mind Tricks, Masta Ace, Nappy Roots, G-Unit, Miri Ben Ari (Kanye West's violinist), One Be Lo, Non Phixion, Boot Camp Clik, Slum Village, De La Soul, The Last Emperor, Royce The 5'9, Planet Asia, Afu Ra, R.A. The Rugged Man, Phat Kat, Souls of Mischief, Saukrates, Wordsworth, Pumpkinhead and Mr. Metaphor of Brooklyn Academy, OneSelf (Blurum13, Yarah Bravo & DJ Vadim), Murs of Living Legends, Cunninlynguists, Tone Deff & The QN5 Family, Wordsmith, Pigeon John of L.A. Symphony, Mr. Dibbs, Hangar 18, Eyedea & DJ Abilities, 5 time New York DMC champ I-Emerge, DL Incognito and The Nine Planets crew, Reign, Brycon and DJ Equal, Sixtoo, AWOL One, and DJ Scratch Bastard, among many many others. Catch him performing live in a venue near you...

Rugged Intellect's debut album "Renaissance Music: The Introduction" is given 3.5 MICS in THE SOURCE MAGAZINE MAY 2007 ISSUE. The new single "Biters Block" was also selected as one of the top singles of the month in the FAT TAPE section, which also includes Timbaland, 50 Cent, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and other platinum-coated singles.

Rugged Intellect's collaboration with Kool G Rap was recently featured in XXL Magazine's Chairman's Choice column in the March 2007 issue.

Rugged's collaboration with Ras Kass was selected as one of the three standout tracks by SCRATCH MAGAZINE in Domingo's album review for his LP, The Most underrated due out March 17, 2007

Named one of top newcomers of 2007 by Bronx's own DJ Ready Cee, finishing 2nd to Aftermath Entertainment's Bishop Lamont.

Rugged Intellect appears on HipHopGame.com's Hip-Hop Disciples mixtapes part 13 (hosted by Ghostface Killah) and part 17 as well as the DJ Rush Hour Hip-Hop Game Radio mixtape.

In April 2006, Rugged Intellect's recorded the Intro to the Flash Mash show on Sirius Satellite hosted by DJ Cintronics and the legendary Grandmaster Flash.

Rugged was a finalist at the 2004 Source Magazine Unsigned Hype Battle at Madison Square Garden where he was robbed of the title by the no curse policy.

Generally known as a freestyle general, Rugged Intellect was a guest on WNYU's famed Half Time Show with DJ Eclipse in April 2005, where he dropped freestyle jewels and tracks.

Rugged Intellect released his first street mixtape, "Media Hype Mixtape Vol. I" in November 2004 featuring 24 tracks of pure poetical mastery. Featuring freestyles and original tracks produced by Chicago's own Memo (Molemen), the mixtape has been scorching stereo speakers from Montreal to Montenegro.

Rugged Intellect's song "Blood Thirst" was featured on the Ghetto Fights 2 DVD which has sold upwards of 500,000 copies in continental US.

Rugged Intellect performed at the 2005 Vans Warped Tour, sharing the stage with Fat Beats Records artist One Be Lo, among others.