Continuing from the first Area - Dragonball - http://maxpages.com/vegetosdungeon/Ruff_Ryders_Area

Next is the lovely and beautiful: Eve (First lady of Ruff Ryders)

Pit Bull In a Skirt" -- Eve EVE "What Ya Want"
Philadelphia's Eve Jihan Jeffers got her first break in the record business the way many rappers go platinum -- she walked right through the front door. The story goes something like this: Some of her friends (who now serve as her managers) hooked up with producer extraordinaire Dr. Dre and arranged an impromptu audition for Eve -- well, kinda,...they never told him that she was coming. "Out of nowhere they put the tape on and I stood up and started rapping and he was looking at me like, 'Why is this girl rapping?'," recalls Eve. Liking what he saw after only a few bars, the executive cut the audition short and promised to bring Eve to California to work with the good Dr. -- Eve was not impressed.

"I had been through a lot of auditions," she admits, "so I thought, 'If he calls, he calls; if he don't, he don't.' But he called the next day - I had auditioned for him on a Saturday and that Sunday he called and told me I had to be out there by Friday."

Eve moved out to L.A. Dr. Dre put her in the studio, where she completed a three songs demo tape. "Eve of Destruction," one of the songs from those sessions, wound up on the Bulworth Soundtrack. Unfortunately, Dr. Dre was still overseeing the growth of his fledgling label, and Eve's one-year contract with Aftermath expired before she could get to work on her album.

"I believe that everything happens for a reason," says a pragmatic Eve. "The music that I really wanted to write at the time wasn't coming through me."

While still in L.A., Eve forged a bond with a rising star named DMX, who she met through producer Mail Man, while X was in town promoting his debut album, It's Dark And Hell Is Hot. When she moved back to Philly, Eve would come to New York and hang out with the rest of the Ruff Ryder's camp. Soon enough, Eve was invited to join Ruff Ryders Records through a trial by fire. "The way I was signed was in a cipher," Eve remembers. "I had to go up against [Ruff Ryders emcees] Drag-On and Infa Red - I was shook. If I was wack, Ruff Ryders wouldn't have signed me."

The fact that you're reading this let's you know she wasn't wack. If you're still not convinced, check her sexy yet hardcore appearances on the Roots' "You Got Me," the remix to "Ruff Ryders Anthem" from DJ Clue?'s The Professional and BLACKstreet's "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" - not to mention her work on Ryde Or Die, the Ruff Ryders' compilation album. Her verses are affirmations of self, recognition, and braggadocio rhyme skills. "I know who I am now and where I wanna take myself and what I wanna show the world," she says. As early as third grade, Eve was winning school merit awards for her short stories, plays and poems. "I had a real good imagination," she assesses. In her early teens she was part of a 5-girl singing group, covering tunes by En Vogue and Color Me Badd. Around the time Michael Bivin's ABC came out, the group's manager suggested they start rapping.

Known as Eve of Destruction, she excelled at rhyming, graduating from cafeteria battles to "stomping all over" Philly's talent show scene and serving as opening act for local rap concerts as part of a female emcee duo named EDJP (pronounced "Egypt") -- all this is before the prominence of the female emcee. "Now, it's more like rapping is the thing right now," Eve observes. "Before, when I was in high school, it really wasn't big -- especially for girls to be rapping."

"I would really like my stage name to be just Eve," she says noting that many people refer to her by the moniker she carried while laying her hip-hop foundation. "Certain people still call me Eve of Destruction. I don't mind it 'cause I'm still her -- I'm still destroying emcees."

Next the wonderfully talented: Swizz Beatz and P K

Coming Soon

Now we have a personal favorite of mine: Yung Wun

"I was born in this ghetto world product of a ghetto fuck between a ghetto boy and a ghetto girl." YUNG WUN
Out of these seemingly dismal circumstances, he rose. Birth name, James 'dark prince' later to be crowned "Yung Wun".

Born in Atlanta, Georgia just over a decade and a half ago, Yung Wun spent his adolescent years training for battle in Eastlake meadows housing projects, otherwise known as "little Vietnam". His family later relocated to the McDaniel Glenn housing projects where they still reside today. Early on, Yung Wun's blessed poetic gifts were over shadowed by the effects of a ruthless environment, making this misguided youth easy prey for the "ghetto and its' wicked ways." Yung Wun became immersed in its' confusion, agitating his childhood innocence. By the age of six, he had surrendered the war on the streets.

Yung Wun had numerous encounters with police as he took part in random lawlessness, which landed him in the throws of the juvenile justice system. It was during the height of this pandemonium; Yung Wun found relief from this madness through lyrical expression. He began writing and rhyming as a form of escape. He even won several oratorical contests and writing awards.

Yung Wun's grandmother, Vera was his angel amidst his hell on earth. She would continually plead with her grandson to get off the streets and concentrate on his God-given talents of speaking and writing. In the single most pivotal moment in his young life, Yung Wun's grandmother died in his arms. Overwhelmed by her death, he was left to contemplate his future path. Remembering what Vera told him, he began to defy the evil forces of the streets and focus on the good his grandmother always saw in him. Yung Wun devoted his life to his art form.

Inspired by the kings of Hip-Hop, Tupac, Biggie, and DMX, he began rapping all over metro Atlanta, grabbing the attention of several music executives. Yung Wun has appeared on multiple underground down south projects. He has endured the underhandedness of the industry realizing that some of the people who claimed they would help him achieve his dream, only lured him in to exploit the ambitious teen; stealing his songs, then casting him aside. Yung Wun pressed on with a vengeance vowing that here would be "consequences and repercussions" if anyone tried to stop him.

His career took an upward turn in 1998 when he signed with producers from Dark Society Recordings; an Atlanta based Production Company. The team put together a twelve-song album and presented it to Ruff Ryder super producer Swiss Beatz. Swiss immediately recognized the extraordinary talent of this young MC, and passed the material on to Ruff Ryder executives. Within six months, Yung Wun was signed to Ryde or Die Records, Ruff Ryder's independent label, and is slated for release in early 2000. Yung Wun was on his way to NYC. "L'il country don' got citified on a Ruff Ryde!"

His professional debut came when he was asked to appear with drag-On on the "Down Bottom" remix off the multi-platinum selling Ruff Ryder Compilation. Yung Wun's unique blend of down south energy, ferocious delivery style, and poetic genius, combine to make him one of the most awesome Hip-Hop artists to enter the rap game in recent years. He stimulates his audiences with high-powered anthems, rousing chants, animated performances, and a provocative thugology, which chronicles ghetto episodes involving love, money, power, and politics.

Even during his meekest, thirstiest moments, this storytelling prince always knew he was "the next living legend". And after his long, tiresome journey, he embraces this honor, preparing himself to sit alongside the other lyrical kings knowing he will soon inherit the earth.

"Tell me what it is? Hahh! The World is mine! The World is mine!" - YUNG

The man with the plan: DJ Shok

Michael Gomez p.k.a. DJ Shok has always been interested in music and business. A DJ since the age of 10, who gained local recognition through parties. He would organize, promote , and Dj from age 14 to 16.
At 16, he became interested in music production. DJ Shok would borrow equipment or rent studio time to learn more.

At 18, DJ Shok saved $3500 from doing Dj work. He used this money to buy his first keyboard, he dedicated all his time to making beats. In his spare time SHOK was playing in NYC Clubs such as: Octogon, Demarara, Cat club, Viper, Expo, Nells, etc.

At 20, he started Mass Vinyl Recordings, an independent label where he recorded, mixed, produced, radio promotions & mail outs from his basement. He charted his Artist "Hi Tech" in HITS, CMJ, GAVIN, & #2 in Billboard maxi singles sales in January 1997 & received numerous write-ups in Hip Hop magazines. Hi-Tech was one of the few artists to ever perform in Bucaresti, Romania.

In August of 1998 DJ Shok signed to "Ruff Ryders" as an in house producer. Since then he has worked with some of the top Rap Artists in the Industry & became one of the most sought after Multi Platinum producers.

In the Year 2000, look for DJ Shok to be playig at clubs all over the world, while producing more hit records for all types of Artists. You may also catch him in the studio with his group "The Faculty" who are already buzzing on the streets from mix-tapes like: K-Slay, Tony Touch, Doowop, & many others.

Look for Shok's work on the up-coming releases by: DMX & The Ruff Ryders, Busta Rhymes & The Flipmode Squad, Big Pun & The Terror Squad, YukMouth, Pras, & Beanieman.

This is basically the R&B version of the LOX: Parle

If you don't believe that a dog's bark is not as bad has his bite, you will soon know this as the truth. Because just as you thought that no other R&B Group could come into the music game and change the face of music, Parle' enters. Bitten by the music back at young ages, AG, Dee and Twan are now gracing the R&B stage. From North Carolina, Parle' (Slang: to chill, to relax) has placed a new collar onto the R&B game. In 1994, Parle' was discovered as the new breed in R&B in their hometown of Raleigh, by Diamond Life Entertainment. Starting off as pups in entertainment, the young trio would often participate as the opening act for visiting artists and/or acts such as R&B group Total, singer Joe, R&B group Blackstreet, and songstress Monica.

Their big break came in 1996 when the trio went to Atlanta during the Freaknic Festival where they met Dwayne "Wise" Smith of Bad Boy Entertainment. That initial meeting then led them to New York where Wise introduced them to top dogs, brothers Joaquine "Waah" Dean and Darrin "Dee' Dean, the CEO's of Ruff Ryders Entertainment. Auditioning for Waah, Parle' was immediately signed to their production company. Barking up the right tree, The Deans were waiting for the label deal to be completed with Interscope. Parle' signed on to Ruff Ryder/Interscope in January of 1998.

Make no mistake about it, they are no whining cats. As the pitbulls of R&B, their sound is sharp, compact and deadly to the ears of listeners who are looking for a certain mellow edge. With their distinctive voices, AG brings the Soul of Al Green, Dee brings the smoothness of Smokey Robinson, and Twan brings the gritty like Bobby Brown or a male version of Mary J. Blige. With more sound and energy than any R&B trio out there, Parle' is filled with soul. Reared in the church, Parle's participation in choirs served as their kennel for vocal growth. Karen Clark, John P. Kee, Kim Burrell, Men of Standard, and Kirk Franklin inspire Parle'. In addition, Stevie Wonder and Jodeci are some of the icons that they credit to the R&B world.

Singing about social issues, relationships, and real life experiences is their forte. "Just being ourselves makes us stand above the rest", says group member A.G. Just as DMX brought the raw and realness to the rap game, Parle' will use that same tactic (the real) to win over those same fans in R&B. In addition to being a part of the Ruff Ryder camp, Parle' is also under the direction of Ray Copeland's BAR Management. Copeland is the manager behind platinum artists such as DMX, The Lox and A+.

So, as the Ruff Ryders' first R&B group, they won't have a lot to prove. Having their paws already placed on the "Ryde or Die" Compilation Album (sold over 1.6 million copies) has marked Parle's debut for greatness. They are already a part of the best-selling rap compilation album in music history.

The group has already gotten their feet wet since becoming the newest act on Ruff Ryders. They performed during the 1999 Superbowl weekend in Miami, at an event for Source Sports Magazine, The Cancun Jazz Festival over Memorial Day Weekend, and a slew of promotional dates to coincide with the release of the compilation album.

Generating a huge buzz already, the trio has been featured in the New York Daily News and VIBE Magazine. Their debut album is projected to be unleashed later this year. Beware!!

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Page Updated Sun Jun 3, 2001 4:36pm EDT