Note: Pause @ The Title

Neither praise nor criticism seems to faze Hell Rell. While the Dipset founders “work out” their creative differences, he’s back in the trenches, grinding and continuing his rap career unrelentlessly. Making the most of his limited resources like Indians to buffalo, Ruger keeps the bullets flying on his 2nd release of 2009, Hard As Hell. Read the rest of this entry »

Usually when a breakup occurs, so much attention is given to the main parties involved that others affected often become an afterthought. The Dipset movement suffered a divorce of sorts and almost all the focus has been given to the bad blood between Cam’ron and Jim Jones. Their story’s garnered all the attention, while their contractually obligated “children” (Juelz included) were left to their own devices. Seeking the studio over the psychiatrist’s couch, Ruga Rell is back with another batch of hard nosed lyrics on Get In Line Or Get Lined Up. Although he’s fully capable of creating an album on his own, a little more involvement from the parental units would have helped things greatly. Read the rest of this entry »

Quite obviously, this is for archival purposes because “The Symphony” this is not. Nah, it’s actually pretty decent with respectable verses from Read the rest of this entry »

Previously Posted — Hell Rell – “Ruga Stories” Part 4 | “I Like Tennis Chains Now Dummy.”

Just when you thought it was safe to watch another video, Ruger is back…again…with more humorous commentary.

Mr. Black Mask, Black Gloves talks Dipset, why he’s a “walking Filet Mignon,” offers more thoughts about Red Café & more.

Previously Posted — “I Like Tennis Chains Now Dummy.”

Words By Jesse H.

I can safely lay claim to being one of the most consistent vocal detractors of the “Dipset is the new Wu-Tang” argument any time I hear it mentioned. Don’t get me wrong, I bump the Dips on a healthy basis, I just don’t think a comparison to the Wu is a proper parallel to draw. I will concede however, that this particularly entertaining Hell Rell interview did make me reminisce on some of Ol Dirty Bastard’s finest moments:

Now, no combination of personality, drugs and being in the right place at the right time could ever result in another ODB, which makes the tragic void left by his absence all the more glaring in the culture. But its videos like the one above that at least seem to make an attempt to fill that missing role of zany soundbites and outlandish behavior in Hip-Hop.

I’m not sure if Hell Rell’s really delusional enough to think that his film career is as juicy as he makes it sound, or that he’s swarmed by tens of millions of fans every time he steps outside. But the bottom line is I don’t really care if he believes it all or not. Between the clip’s over-the-top realness, which flirts severely with tongue-in-cheek self-parody, you can really see a man overjoyed to be in the position he’s in.

Listen to him describe a diamond-testing machine in the first part. Find the part when he’s going through his weekly itinerary of clubs. Then sit back and enjoy all the hilarious soundbites in between (“I look like a platinum artist already STUPID”), and tell me that Ruga isn’t making the most of his C-list celebrity moments. I could listen to him smack talk the camera for hours. He may not ever be the most talented rapper to grace your headphones, but I don’t think you could find a rapper this side of Tony Yayo more grateful about filling their given role in their set.

And why not? If you were a 28 year-old rapper who looked like you were 44 and had a face that looked like it spent a considerable amount of time on the bottom of a Nike, you’d probably be happy enough to be running with a successful crew. You too would have no problem with a little self-deprecating fun while you could. How else can you explain the thought process that led to the bullet-tooth cover of For the Hell of It?

A&R: “So Ruga, what’re you thinking about for the cover of your album?”

Hell Rell: “I thought it would be really hardcore to photoshop bullets in where my teeth are. Can we do that?”

I don’t know much about the man, I’m just glad he’s here. Holla at me Ruga, we can hang out on Wednesday for “whatever day.”

P.S. If anyone knows what the status of Hell Rell’s book is and where I can get a copy, please get at me in the comments.

“Ruga Stories” Part 2

“Ruga Stories” Part 3

Previously Posted — Hell Rell – “Get Ready” Video | TSS Presents Smoking Sessions With Hell Rell

Cam & Jimmy may be unmistakabely quiet but Ruger Rell is still gettin’ his in.

Black Mask Black Gloves (The Ruga Edition) in stores 7.22.08.