RUEL RAPHAEL

Exploding on the Connecticut hip hop scene in 1989, Ruel first gained notoriety as a member of the seminal Hartford collaborative known as Capital Punishment. With underground anthems like 'Drug Wars,' 'Land of the Punishment' and 'Rebels of the Renagade' booming through the streets of the state capital and beyond, Ruel's streetwise staccato quickly established him as one of the top emcees in the area. Drawing from his rich Jamaican and Cuban heritage, the visually-charged lyrics of his songs were recited by everyone from college students to local hustlers. Ruel, along with producer G Money, freestyle legend Shakim the Supreme and Brooklynite transplant Tone-omatic, influenced countless hip hop artists in the Connecticut scene with their militant and socially insightful wordplay, as well as their gritty, haunting production. A talented DJ and producer, Ruel also hosted a popular radio show on WHUS at Uconn and later graduated from ECSU. After college, Ruel turned his budding mix tape business, Trunkload Entertainment, into a full-fledged independent record label and released a well reviewed debut called 'The All' and later 'No Words.'

After years of bubbling on the surface of the rap game, Ruel finally broke through on an international level in 2000, scoring a 3 hit single on the UK hip hop charts with a guest spot on the massive hit 'Power Moves' on Rugged-Style Recordswith Cashino & Mecca. 'Power Moves' received heavy airplay from both major and pirate stations in the UK, as well getting radio adds and club spins in Germany, France, Nigeria and the US college market. Despite being available only on vinyl, the EP still sold well over the next year and eventually even made it on to Tim Westwood's Hip Hop Connection chart, one of the most influential DJs in Europe. "It was amazing being on the radio in London and hearing that cut in all the clubs" says Ruel. "It really established me on an international level and helped me work with so many new producers. Hip hop is a global thing now, but I still stay connected to my roots and thank God." Ruel continues to produce tracks and work with artists from around the globe.