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Ruthless Records was an American independent record label founded by Eazy-E in Compton, California on March 3, 1987. All of the Ruthless trademarks have been owned by Comptown Records, Inc. since 1987. Several artists and groups on the label such as N.W.A, Eazy-E, MC Ren, the D.O.C., Michel'le, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony have released RIAA certified albums.
As the N.W.A members went on tour in support of their projects, some began to voice their displeasure with the financial situation at Ruthless. According to group member MC Ren, it was a common opinion that N.W.A and Ruthless manager Jerry Heller was the one receiving their due:
Heller, in his 2006 memoir Ruthless, disputes any allegations of financial misconduct.
The label also experienced outside pressure due to the group. The success of their song "Fuck tha Police" led to a threatening FBI letter to distributor Priority Records. After coming off tour, group member Ice Cube voiced his opinions on the group's finances. Though Heller continually claimed that everything was in order, and even offered them to open the account books to prove his innocence, Ruthless (Heller/Reavill, 2007) the ensuing confrontation ended in Ice Cube leaving Ruthless without signing on as a solo artist, which the remaining members proceeded to do.
1988 also saw the release of J.J. Fad's gold-certified album Supersonic, produced by N.W.A members Dr. Dre and DJ Yella and co- produced by Arabian Prince and in 1989, singer Michel'le's first album Michel'le, and the D.O.C.'s critically acclaimed No One Can Do It Better (all released through Atlantic), the former produced by N.W.A beat-smiths Dr. Dre and DJ Yella with the latter produced solely by Dre; following these efforts, Dre and Yella returned to N.W.A, producing the 100 Miles and Runnin' E.P. and the group's sophomore effort, Niggaz4Life, which reached Platinum status. Above the Law's Livin' Like Hustlers was also released during this period (by way of Epic Records).
In 1989, Eazy signed hip-hop's first white female rapper Tairrie B to Ruthless' new Comptown label subsidiary. She released her debut album The Power of a Woman in 1990 (through MCA Records) featuring the single and video for "Murder She Wrote" which Eazy and Philadelphia rapper Schoolly D appeared in. The album also featured guest vocals by Dr. Dre, D.O.C. and future House of Pain frontman Everlast, and production by QDIII.
Now short of Dr. Dre and The D.O.C., Eazy-E collaborated with several other artists, including rappers B.G. Knocc Out and Gangsta Dresta, as well as producers like Big Hutch and Rhythm D to fill their void. These collaborators played key roles in supporting Eazy during his rivalry with Death Row Records. Although closely affiliated with Ruthless Records, B.G. Knocc Out and Gangsta Dresta were never officially signed to the label. In response to diss tracks such as Bitches Ain't Shit and the intro to Dr. Dre's 1992 debut, The Chronic, Eazy-E released It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa through Epic Records and Ruthless. Released in October 1993, the majority of the EP as well its title were directed towards Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg and Death Row. It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa remains to be Eazy-E's best selling project, debuting in the top five on the Billboard 200 and sold over two million copies in America. While MC Ren and DJ Yella stayed neutral, they remained with Ruthless, releasing several LPs. Producer Big Hutch/Cold 187 um alleges that during this time period, with Ruthless switching distributors from Priority to Relativity and Epic Records, even Wright began to feel as though Heller was dishonest with the label's finances:
However he added, "I can't knock Jerry Heller... because Jerry Heller gave us all an opportunity. He took us to the people to get massive exposure. We couldn't have walked through the doors as brothers like that. We needed a guy like Jerry Heller to do that. You need that face, you need that voice, you need that guy with a connect like that. Without him there wouldn't have been none of that."
Eazy-E allegedly fired Heller shortly before his death in 1995.
The label has had several distributors simultaneously. Early Ruthless releases were distributed by Macola (including certain material from JJ Fad which was made prior to the completion of the Supersonic album, which were at first released through Dream Team Records), but then they signed to Ruthless shortly after. All of N.W.A's releases and Eazy-E's debut solo album on Ruthless Records were distributed by Priority Records, and the rights to these releases are now held by Priority's new owner, Capitol Records. Releases by the D.O.C, Michel'le, Yomo & Maulkie and JJ Fad were marketed through Atlantic Records or its subsidiary Atco Records. These master rights are still held by Atlantic's parent company, Warner, while Above The Law's releases were marketed through Epic Records and Giant. In 1994, Ruthless found exclusive distribution through Relativity, a former heavy metal label. Relativity was later folded into its parent company, Sony.
| Eazy-E | 1987–1995 | 5 |
| MC Ren | 1987–1998 | 4 |
| N.W.A | 1987–1991 | 3 |
| J. J. Fad | 1987–1991 | 2 |
| Dr. Dre | 1987–1991 | — |
| The D.O.C. | 1988–1991 | 1 |
| Michel'le | 1988–1991 | 1 |
| Fila Fresh Crew | 1988–1990 | 1 |
| Yomo & Maulkie | 1989–1992 | 1 |
| Kokane | 1989–1995 | 2 |
| Tairrie B | 1989–1994 | 1 |
| Jimmy Zavala | 1990–1991 | 1 |
| Above the Law | 1989–1996 | 4 |
| Penthouse Players Clique | 1991–1993 | 1 |
| Atban Klann | 1992–1995 | — |
| H.W.A. | 1992–1995 | 2 |
| Menajahtwa | 1992–1994 | 1 |
| Blood of Abraham | 1993–1994 | 1 |
| Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | 1993–2003 | 5 |
| Brownside | 1994–1995 | — |
| Frost | 1994–1997 | 2 |
| King T | 1997–2000 | – |
| Spymob | 2004-2005 | 2 |
| Stevie Stone | 2007–2009 | 1 |
| Hopsin | 2007–2009 | 1 |
| Dr. Dre | 1987–1991 |
| Cold 187um | 1989–1996 |
| DJ U-Neek | 1993–2003 |
| J. J. Fad | Supersonic |
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| Eazy-E | Eazy-Duz-It |
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| N.W.A | Straight Outta Compton |
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| The D.O.C | No One Can Do It Better |
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| Michel'le | Michel'le |
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| Above the Law | Livin' Like Hustlers |
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| N.W.A | 100 Miles and Runnin' |
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| J. J. Fad | Not Just a Fad |
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| N.W.A | Niggaz4Life |
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| Above the Law | Vocally Pimpin' |
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| Yomo & Maulkie | Are U Xperienced? |
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| Jimmy Zavala | Muzical Madness |
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| Penthouse Players Clique | Paid the Cost |
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| MC Ren | Kizz My Black Azz |
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| Eazy-E |
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| Above the Law | Black Mafia Life |
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| Eazy-E | It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa |
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| MC Ren | Shock of the Hour |
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| H.W.A. | Az Much Ass Azz U Want |
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| Kokane | Funk Upon a Rhyme |
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| Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | Creepin on ah Come Up |
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| Above the Law | Uncle Sam's Curse |
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| Menajahtwa | Cha-licious |
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| Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | E. 1999 Eternal |
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| Frost | Smile Now, Die Later |
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| Eazy-E | Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton |
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| MC Ren | The Villain in Black |
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| Frost | When Hell.A. Freezes Over |
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| Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | The Art of War |
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| MC Ren | Ruthless for Life |
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| Bizzy Bone | Heaven'z Movie |
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| Krayzie Bone | Thug Mentality 1999 |
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| Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | BTNHResurrection |
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| Layzie Bone | Thug by Nature |
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| Eazy-E | Impact of a Legend |
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| Bone Thugs-n-Harmony | Thug World Order |
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| N.W.A | N.W.A and the Posse |
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| N.W.A | Greatest Hits |
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| N.W.A |
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| Various Artists | The N.W.A Legacy, Vol. 2 |
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| N.W.A |
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| N.W.A | Family Tree |
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Works cited
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