Ruff Sqwad

Ruff Sqwad
GenresGrime
Instruments
Years active
  • 2001–2013
  • 2015–present
Labels
Members
  • Prince Rapid
  • Fuda Guy
  • Roachee
Past members
  • Tinchy Stryder
  • Slix
  • Dirty Danger
  • Mad Max
  • Shifty Rydos
  • DJ Scholar
  • DJ Begg
  • XTC
  • Sir Spyro
  • Mercy

Ruff Sqwad are an English grime crew.[1] The group was formed in 2001 in Bow, East London. Various members and affiliates of the crew are considered key figures in the early development of grime music.[2]

Ruff Sqwad first became known in the early days of grime for the distinctive production style of the crew's producers. Early Ruff Sqwad instrumentals were released on white label, which are currently rare and fetch high prices on the second hand market.[3] Notable early Ruff Sqwad instrumentals include Pied Piper,[4] Functions on the Low[5] and Misty Cold.[6] Functions on the Low, produced by Ruff Sqwad affiliate XTC has been described as one of the greatest tracks in the history of British electronic music.[7] The crew has released two mixtapes, Guns and Roses Volume. 1 and Guns and Roses Volume. 2, an extended play (2012) as well as an instrumental compilation album, White Label Classics.[8][9]

  1. ^ TINCHY STRYDER GOES BACK TO GRIME!?. MTV. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  2. ^ "'Died in your Arms': before the legendary grime unit disbands, FACT meets Ruff Sqwad to talk White Label Classics". Fact Mag. 3 December 2012.
  3. ^ "'Died in your Arms': before the legendary grime unit disbands, FACT meets Ruff Sqwad to talk White Label Classics – Page 3 of 3". 3 December 2012.
  4. ^ "Ruff Sqwad – Pied Piper". Discogs.
  5. ^ "XTC (7) – Misty Cold Remix / Functions / Baby Wipes". Discogs.
  6. ^ "Ruff Sqwad – Misty Cold". Discogs.
  7. ^ Hancox, Dan (6 December 2012). "A history of grime, by the people who created it". The Guardian.
  8. ^ The Jam Session with Tinchy Stryder. BBC. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  9. ^ Tinchy Stryder the interview. MTV. Retrieved 14 August 2011