Big Ru DaRyda is an American MC of Puerto Rican descent. Having been raised in the South Bronx, Ru grew up immersed in Hip Hop culture. In the Patterson Projects, he heard “Criminal Minded” for the first time blaring from a boom box on the basketball courts. While staying with his aunt, a few blocks away from Yankee Stadium, she gave him his first Hip Hop record. It was a 12“ vinyl with the Slick Rick’s “La di da di” and Doug E. Fresh’s “The Show”. At the age of 8, he and his mom moved to W. 176St. and Andrews Ave, only blocks away from what many today consider the birthplace of Hip Hop. It was around that age that Ru began to write poetry. Over the years, Ru’s love of poetic rhyme schemes and Hip Hop music merged and developed into his own flow. 

Though many were impressed by his skills, Ru limited himself to rapping in cyphers with friends and had no aspirations for the mic. Seeing no prospects in the music industry, he pursued Higher Education. Struggling on his own, he decided to seek a better life in Puerto Rico shortly after achieving his degree. It wasn’t until 2006, crushed by the death of his grandfather, that he came to sense life’s finality. He thought to himself, “if there was anything he ever wanted to do in life, now was the time”. So, he decided to follow his heart and pursue his dream of making music. He set out looking for local producers and MCs and found RIN, a fellow “nuyorican” from Queens based in Puerto Rico. Coincidentally, RIN and producer E-Ram were forming G-cide Camp and welcomed him to the crew. Ru featured on several tracks on their mixtape but in 2009, life’s obligations led him away from music.

In 2011, by chance and circumstance Ru and RIN crossed paths again and they started discussing music. By then, most of the G-cide Camp had moved out of the island and RIN had teamed up with Da Sage Flowz Precise. They had joined to form Art of Skillz and their own group (VerseMinority). RIN and Sage approached Ru about joining Art of Skillz. Ru agreed and has since featured on the VerseMinority mixtape "The Catalyst" & their debut album "The Minority Report". Ru is currently working on his solo project.


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