GHETTO RUFF is an independent South African recording label specializing in kwaito, hip hop, soul, house, gospel and rhythm and blues. Having been formed around the need to have a voice against apartheid GR released Prophets of da City who had tracks banned by the government of the day. Currently, ''Ghetto Ruff Records'' known as Mlominent artists including Prophets of Da City (POC), Ishmael, Skeem, OdaMeesta, ASHAAN, Brickz, Zola, Pitch Black Afro, DJ Cleo, Bravo, Brown Dash, Mzekezeke, DJ What What, Skomplazi, Amu, Brassie Vannie Kaap, Tuks, Morafe, Jozi, Da Les, Bongani Fassie, Vusi NOVA, Nathi, NANCY G, BISHOP LOUIS, RUFF X, RJ Bejamin, Drenko, Kyllex, Malik, MCHANGANI, Gumshev, Metswako, Slice, SpyKos were just some of the releases.

History

Ghetto Ruff came to be in the late 1980s when Lance Stehr (current Managing Director of the label) formed the Cape Town-based hip hop group, Prophets of Da City. POC did extremely well in South Africa as well as internationally. In many ways POC enabled Stehr to expand and grow the label into the premiere kwaito label in South Africa today. South Africa's R&B star Ishmael was born out of POC and in 1996 he helped Ghetto Ruff Records enter the kwaito genre when the group Skeem was formed, another splinter group of POC was the acclaimed Afrikaans hip hop group Brasse Vannie Kaap. With this foundation, Stehr was able to discover and nurture most probably the most artists from an independent label resulting in hundreds of thousands of record sales over the year. Stehr also produced the sound track for YIZO YIZO, TSOTSI (OSCAR WINNER), and went on to TV to do JOZI - MOVING THE CITY, FLY CHIX and SKYROOM LIVE.

Artists

*Kaybee (legendary music producer/artist) *Amu (rapper) *Bishop Louis *Bongani Fassie *Bravo Zola *Brickz *BVK : Brasse Vannie Kaap * DJ Cleo *Drencko *FIESTA BLACK *Gumshev *

Ishmael Ishmael ''Ismaḗl''; Classical/Qur'anic Arabic: إِسْمَٰعِيْل; Modern Standard Arabic: إِسْمَاعِيْل ''ʾIsmāʿīl''; la, Ismael was the first son of Abraham, the common patriarch of the Abrahamic religions; and is cons ...

* Jozi * Kyllex *

Malik Malik, Mallik, Melik, Malka, Malek, Maleek, Malick, Mallick, or Melekh ( phn, 𐤌𐤋𐤊; ar, ملك; he, מֶלֶךְ) is the Semitic term translating to "king", recorded in East Semitic and Arabic, and as mlk in Northwest Semitic duri ...

* Mchangani * Metswako * Mgarimbe * Morafe *

NATHI Nkosinathi Mankayi (born 23 December 1982), professionally known as Nathi, is a South African singer-songwriter and artist. He shot to limelight upon the release of his critically acclaimed song titled " Nomvula" off his triple-platinum debut s ...

* POC : Prophets Of Da City * RJ Benjamin *

RUFF X Ruff may refer to: Places * Ruff, Virginia, United States, an unincorporated community * Ruff, Washington, United States, an unincorporated community Other uses *Ruff (bird) (''Calidris pugnax'' or ''Philomachus pugnax''), a bird in the wader fa ...

* Skomplazi *Spykos *Slice *

Vusi Nova Snova (born Vusimuzi Nongxa, 1984), commonly known by his former name Vusi Nova, is a South African singer. Born and raised in New Brighton, Gqeberha, Nova relocated to Johannesburg in 1998 at the age of 14 to pursue his career in music and signed ...

* Tuks *

Zola Zola may refer to: People * Zola (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * Zola (musician) (born 1977), South African entertainer * Zola (rapper), French rapper * Émile Zola, a major nineteenth-century French writer Plac ...

* 37MPH aka

Mpho Pholo Mpho Skeef (pronounced /mpʰo skʲɪəf/), known by her stage name of Mpho, is a South African-born British singer-songwriter based in London. Early and personal life Skeef was born during the apartheid regime in South Africa to Sipho Mabuse ...

(Music Producer/Artist) *D Low *Skeem *Cream *Ashaan *Ghetto Luv *O Da Meesta *Boomaratcy *DJs Revolution *DJ Killa and DJ Murder *DJ What What *Mapaputsi *Tandoor *Ms Mash *Kofifi *Mavusana & Mizchif *Jobe *Jabu (The Weatherman) *Jay ( Gospel) *Nontende *Ntjapedi *Pitch Black Afro (PBA) *Dj Mthakathi *Mzekezeke *Brown Dash *Unathi Msengana ( Idols Judge) *Jub Jub *Shluda *DJ Nkoh *Keith Murray ( US Rapper) *Puff Johnson ( US Artist) *da L.E.S *Cooke *Maggz *Ricky Rick *Mzansi Strings *Fly Chix *Nancy G *Veezo *Wanda *Dj Sneja *Vusi Nova *Chanel *Moneoa *ShoutOut *Makizar *Tarajika *Young & Dirty *Joelle Xo *Nasrene *Amanda Mankayi *Bongani Radebe *Ntando *Mega Drum *Sho Madjozi *PS Djz *Bekazela *Dear Zwicky *Dj Vitoto *Skara Teka *Hush-SA *047 *Onesimus *Ntsika *Ntando

References

{{Authority control South African independent record labels

History

Artists

See also

References