Richard Andrew Thorburn, known as R.A. the Rugged Man, is an American rapper and producer recognized for his complex lyricism and raw style. Starting his career at just twelve, he built a strong local reputation before signing with Jive Records at eighteen, though his debut album with the label was ultimately shelved. R.A. gained wider attention with appearances on all three of Rawkus’s Soundbombing albums and the platinum-selling WWF Aggression project. After a short tenure at Capitol Records, he released his acclaimed debut album Die, Rugged Man, Die, through Nature Sounds, followed by Legends Never Die in 2013. Beyond music, R.A. has contributed to major publications and worked in film, notably writing and producing Bad Biology and hosting the web series Film School.