The triumphant return of R.A. THE RUGGED MAN has been one of the most exciting hip-hop developments of 2020. The impact of the legendary emcee’s widely acclaimed new album All My Heroes Are Dead(Released on Nature Sounds) continues to reverberate, as R.A. is now back with another music video off the project, premiering today viaAmerican Songwriter. Produced by electronic music star Michal Menert (formerly of Pretty Lights), “All Systems Go” is a futuristic thrill ride anchored by whirlwind flows and awe-inspiring lyricism from the Rugged Man.
The wild music video matches the track’s propulsive energy, jumping from time-travel experiments to Victorian-era serial killers, from virtual reality to Neanderthals.
Now available worldwide, All My Heroes Are Dead features appearances by Ghostface Killah, Chuck D, Ice-T, Slug of Atmosphere, Vinnie Paz, M.O.P., Kool G Rap, Onyx, Brand Nubian, A-F-R-O, Chris Rivers, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, and more.
“I had a lot of fun with this one. Michal Menert blessed me with some surreal, futuristic music blended with throwback hip hop sampling,” says R.A. about the song. “The lyricism is purposely abstract, future to past to present…so visually we went from spaceships and sci-fi technological experiments to dinosaurs and prehistoric cave dwellers.” Continuing about the video, R.A. says that “The artist who did the visuals [Jaak De Digitale] designs images for planetariums, and the director [Jonas Govaerts] is an award-winning horror filmmaker. The whole thing came out like Stanley Kubrick on crack.”
R.A. The Rugged Man is one of the most fascinating figures in hip-hop history. His career spans decades and defies simple narratives. The Rugged Man has been an up-and-coming star, an industry outcast banished and forgotten, an underground cult hero, an independent success story, and an influential master of the art form. He can obliterate rappers with ferocious battle rhymes, craft heartfelt personal songs fans can relate to, offend sensitive listeners with shocking vulgarity, challenge corrupt politicians and corporations, paint pictures with captivating storytelling, and deliver jaw-dropping flows that prove his lyrical skills are unmatched. He’s also worked with a staggering number of hip-hop’s most respected artists, including legends like The Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang, Tech N9ne, Rakim, Mobb Deep, Kool G Rap, Public Enemy, Brother Ali, and many more. While others struggle to maintain a foothold in the ever-changing rap landscape, R.A. The Rugged Man is the rare artist who has become more relevant with time, with each new album more compelling than the last.
R.A. THE RUGGED MAN
All My Heroes Are Dead stands as his best work to date. “So many of the greats are gone, and the legends who made it out alive are cast aside,” R.A. says. “Society left our heroes and their culture for dead. We have to dig that greatness out of its grave and bring it back with an angry vengeance.” All My Heroes Are Dead is R.A.’s first album since becoming a father of two. “When you have children, that’s a whole other level of joy and pain and emotion,” he describes. “It opens whole entire universes with the pen. I didn’t want to make a whole album of just destroying rappers and rapping better than everyone.” the Rugged Man explains. “There are a lot of places my albums take you, and there’s way more storytelling on this one. I love to bring listeners into different worlds.”
All My Heroes Are Dead is out now on all music platforms. R.A. The Rugged Man is available for interviews.