R. A. Thorburn, better known as R.A. the Rugged Man, is a rapper from Suffolk County, New York on Long Island, who with his father lived in over 20 addresses through out the area. He began his music career at age 12. At 18, he signed to Jive Records as part of the group Crustified Dibbs (A vehicle for R.A. and producer Nigga Niles). Due to violent and disgusting behavior R.A. was blackballed and feared by music industry executives throughout much of the 1990's. Effectively banned from all major record labels, R.A. honed his skills on the underground scene, working with such artists as Notorious B.I.G, Mobb Deep,Tragedy Khadafi, various Wu-Tang Clan affiliates (Killah Priest, Timbo King, Masta Killa, Hell Razah), Jedi Mind Tricks, Agallah, Sadat X, Akinyele, Prince Paul, Prince Po, Craig G, Company Flow, and J-Live, as well as producers Erick Sermon, Trackmasters, DJ Quik, Alchemist, J-Zone, Binky Mac of Allfrumtha I, Stoupe The Enemy Of Man