Ruthless Records was the name of two different record labels, a Chicago punk label, and a Los Angeles hip hop label.
Ruthless Records, Chicago
The older label was not a real business, but a name used by three Chicago punk bands from 1981 to 1986: Big Black, the Effigies, and Naked Raygun.
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Ruthless Records, Los Angeles
The younger label was formed by Eazy-E and Jerry Heller in 1987. The label is credited with founding gangsta rap.
They signed local up and coming hip hop stars Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and DJ Yella, and a year later Eazy-E formed the band NWA. Above the Law, Bone Thugs n Harmony, The D.O.C., BG Knoccout and the Dresta , and JJ Fad later joined the label.
Eazy was diagnosed with AIDS and died in 1995. After Eazy died, the label was taken over by his wife, Tomica Wright. Ruthless Records is now a division of Atlantic Records.
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