MC Ruff Profile / Interview

Dream FM. Heard of them? If you live in the South East and listen to pirate radio stations then the chances are that you have.

Next question. Who are the most popular double act on the station? Did you get it right? Of course you did, it is Spinback and MC Ruff. Ruff, who has been recently getting many bookings for events such as United Dance, Ravealation, Elevation and Moondance, a resident MC at Labrynth, the only place in London where that happy vibe still exists on a weekly basis. This was supposed to be an interview with an up and coming, but the time lag between the interview taking place, and actually being published was so great that I don’t consider him to be an up and coming.

But nevertheless, here we go, interview with Ruff, one of the nicest and safest people on the circuit, just about to break through onto the scene in a big way. What of it? Another MC, someone else to shout over the DJ – but no! Ruff is different, unique, those who have heard him know what I mean. His style is very similar to that of MC MC, but not similar. Does that make sense (sensi)? In words the only way to describe his style is to say that he almost sings along with the tunes being played, he is very fast, very quick and always very clear. It’s strange interviewing somebody who is three or four times the size of you as well! His voice compliments the music as well – a perfect match if you like. We have complaints about MC’s all the time, from DJ’s, readers, Promoters etc but not once have I heard anyone complain about Ruff, real name James, but ‘Jim’ or ‘Branflake’s to his mates. Apparently I have to cal him ‘Sir’.

Standing about 6.3 inches high and weighing, well, quite a lot, his overwhelming control in stature and lyrically speaking is immense at an event. He is named Ruff because of the DJ/MC act he used to be back in the early days with DJ Ready. Ruff and Ready! So how does he feel knowing that he is just on the brink of being booked at every major event in the country?

“It’s been a long time, so I am ready for it and looking forward to it. I’ve been MC’ing for around six years, so in that time I have built up my confidence and whether or not I am MC’ing at Labrynth or United Dance or even in front of a large crowd at one of the Prodigy concerts I still treat it the same. It is a buzz, though doing it to a large crowd….. I used to be a light engineer for a guy called Gary Howard, it was then when we went on tour with the Prodigy, sorting out the lighting. However they didn’t have a tour MC with the crew so they asked me to go once, before and after their show and from then on in I worked with them”.

Speaking about his style we moved onto the other MC’s on the circuit, Ruffs style is not copied, 100% original in fact. So how does he view the other MC’s at events?

“There are a lot of good MC’s out there, both old skool and up and comings. MC MC is obviously very good, also Magika, Sharkey and Robbie D. I remember him from years back”.

I think the reason Ruff is so popular and getting more so at each event he plays at is because of his style. His introduction to his sets even before a tune has even been played. Those who have heard him will know it, those who haven’t then get along to the next event he is playing at and listen to him. By the time you read this it will probably be United Dance at Stevenage on the 19th April, however you can catch him at Labyrnth at Dalston Lane every Saturday night. So here we go with those famous lyrics that propel across the airwaves every Friday and Sunday night on 107.6FM:

“Stand up in me yard, and we go burn ya ganga pipe, Babylon come tell me that’s not right, we just go burn it, smoke it and ride. Officer then pull me over and then to the side cause them say ‘Hey natty dreadlocks, where you come from, you must have two stick of sensi under your tongue – cause me say – no officer me lord you must be mad, cause DJ Spinback and Ruff MC and we go strictly shag!”

Wicked lyrics but you need to hear them live to appreciate it fully. Known mostly for his partnership with Spinback, on Dream FM, he has MC’d with others such as Druid, Slam, Slipmatt, Dougal, and soon to be teaming up with Randalll at Hardcore Uproar. Which ones does he rate?

“There are, again, a lot of good DJ’s out there who I have been working with lately. Vibes, Slipmatt, Jimmy J, Druid, they are all really talented and its great working alongside them. I also like working with Tom Thumb, Doc-E from Dream FM, they’re good DJ’s but basically all the Happy DJ’s playing the right tunes, and pleasing the crowd”.

Having been in the scene for about six years, Ruff has seen people come and go, the scene change, segregate, but at the moment Ruff feels it is as strong as ever:

“The scenes kicking at the moment. Raves every week, every month, up and down the country, the production is getting so good at some events it’s beyond belief. Promoters are taking more time over the events, putting everything into them, for instance World Dance – you can’t fault them. It’s all about preparation and organisation and they have both in the bag and sown up. The scenes have been here for nine years now so as long as the promoters keep putting on good shows and they give the people value for money it will never die off”.

When asked where he sees himself in two years time, he laughs and then says:

“I hope to be busily MC’ing out at all the big events. I have plans also go to into the studio with Spinback and Jimmy J and get some tunes knocked up. I do have a very musical background and feel that with the ideas I have and my experience musically, I could put out some really good stuff”.

The life of an MC is a hard one, up until the early hours of the morning, only just able to speak, and feeling completely shagged out anyway, the question ‘What is your favourite breakfast?’ received an interesting answer, “I don’t eat breakfast, I am never awake in the morning, but normally I have a bowl of Branflakes at around lunchtime…”, hence the nickname which he has adopted over the past few months. His music preference is Happy Hardcore, but he does like Drum ‘n’ Bass and sometimes listens to House, however all this will soon stop. No music past the hours of 6.00pm because Ruff has an instalment to his family on the way! The first time we asked him about Baby Ruff, he just replied “No”, however this time we got a bit more information out him, “Baby Ruff is on the ruff, but the mother and I don’t get on… nuff said!”

Back onto the Prodigy, and his experiences with them. Ruff was with them from 1991 to 1995 and recently toured to Ireland, Helsinki, Norway, Amsterdam and other parts of Europe. However he is not working with them anymore because their music tastes have changed and moved onto the Techno/Hip-Hop side which doesn’t really interest him. But four tours and a lot of good times will always be in his memory box.

So there you have it, some of you may have already heard him, the rest, I am sure, will hear him soon, and now you’ve read about him. MC Ruff, in my opinion, one of the best and will eventually top the rest.