S. Samuel
After New York rapper DMX heated up the Internet this week with talks of a possible Ruff Ryders reunion touring kicking off soon, the label's CEO Joaquin "Waah" Dean has confirmed the hype.
If all goes accordingly, Dean envisions the much-anticipated tour launching overseas.
“Everybody’s on deck. It’s just that we’re making sure all of the schedules are intact,” RR co-CEO Joaquin “Waah” Dean told MTV News. Dates are still being finalized, but Dean confirmed that he expects the tour to start between March and April. The plan is for the crew to begin their run overseas and then come over to the U.S. “We gonna take it nice and slow. We ain’t gonna do like how we used to do, 30 or 40 cities; we not gonna go that far just yet,” he said. “We gonna take it slow. Do a nice little five to 10 joints overseas and then some dates on this side just to build the momentum and have some fun with it.” (MTV)
Yesterday, DMX broke the news of a Ruff Ryders reunion tour coming together.
It’s official … DMX and his legendary rap crew Ruff Ryders are getting back together — in fact, X tells TMZ, a blowout reunion tour is already in the works. Ruff Ryders first lady Eve told us this weekend to expect a massive comeback — but X says the RR reunion is already underway … with CEO Waah Dean currently booking several venues across the country. The tour is supposed to kick off in a few months — and X tells us, the entire crew’s already on board, including Swizz Beats, Drag-On, and Murda-Mook. According to DMX, Eve and The L.O.X. haven’t signed on yet — but that’s just because he hasn’t gotten in touch with them yet. X insists, that will change very soon. X tells us, “We are all family and we’re going to come back stronger than when we left … It’s going to take the nation by storm.” (TMZ)
Last March, Drag-On told SOHH he was no longer inked to Ruff Ryders and most concerned with creating a flourishing solo career.
“I finally got my release from Ruff Ryders,” Drag informed SOHH. “And now I got my own record label, Hood Environment. We’re getting it popping. I have my own artists and we’re putting out our own videos and sh*t like that. We’re just working man. Word. Right now I’m feeling really good. A lot of people welcomed me back with open arms so at the end of the day, I’m just excited that the streets are excited [to hear new music from me]. A lot of people are really starting to catch on to my Hood Environment record label movement. Everything is gravy. I definitely cannot complain right now.” (SOHH)
Back in 2009, The LOX’s Jadakiss said a Ruff Ryders reunion was just a matter of getting the entire crew back together.
“You know, the Ryders is pure talent around the board,” Jada said about his team of emcees which includes DMX, Eve and Swizz Beatz. “It’s just a matter of linking up and putting it together. I had to be the engine, you know what I mean, with this Last Kiss album, get back in the door, get my elbows, get my elbow space and pull everybody out. DMX is back out of the trouble again. I feel fresh, it’s like a new beginning. Five years off [and] to have a first-week like I had, you know, the response is great. The people are still feeling the kid and that’s all it’s about…I was told I was nice from [Big] Pun, Biggie, Nas, Jay-Z, Eminem.” (Parker Vision)
Check out some recent DMX footage below:
